Mentoring in business is a fantastic way for mentees to advance in their careers while giving mentors a great opportunity to network and gain new knowledge from their mentees.
To ensure the success of your mentoring program, it’s vital that you establish its goals and objectives. Once this is in place, create a timeline and establish how mentors and mentees will be recruited and matched together.
1. Look for a Mentor
Finding a mentor can be invaluable when looking to expand or transition your business, providing advice that could save time and effort later on. Finding someone with previous experience can help guide better decisions while preventing costly missteps that could spell failure for you and your venture.
Begin your search for a mentor by reaching out to those in your immediate circle who could provide assistance. They have likely seen your work and may offer valuable guidance as to how it could be improved.
Also, look into joining social media communities or networking groups dedicated to small business. Here you may find mentors who can introduce you to other business owners.
At the core, it all boils down to knowing exactly what you expect of a mentor and your availability for commitment. Be upfront with expectations in order to keep communication flowing freely between both of you.
2. Seek Specific Advice
Avoid seeking generalized advice; seek guidance that will assist in meeting specific challenges. Ask about your business or career goals when searching for guidance.
Mentors who have endured similar difficulties as you can help provide valuable perspectives that you wouldn’t otherwise consider on your own.
For instance, if you’re trying to overcome public speaking anxiety, consulting your mentor about effective strategies would likely help.
Your mentor needs enough time and patience to respond to any inquiries and provide the information that’s required of them, which is especially crucial if the relationship is short-term or ongoing.
3. Thank Your Mentor
Thanking your mentor can be an easy yet powerful way to show them just how much you appreciate their assistance and their time and support. Research shows that simply expressing thanks can have an incredible impactful change on the way mentees see their mentors and view the relationship they share together.
Your thank you letter should express your thanks and appreciation for their guidance and advice, and express how thankful you are for everything they’ve done to assist. Additionally, include details regarding your relationship and any pertinent details.
Before writing to your mentor, it is always beneficial to attempt to gain an understanding of his or her personal preferences in order to craft an original and sincere message. Doing this will allow you to choose words which best express your thanks while remaining genuine in tone.
4. Stay Connected
Staying in contact with your mentor can be an excellent way to keep their name fresh in your mind, remain motivated, and gain more value from the relationship. By reaching out, it also shows them you value their time and are dedicated to building it further.
Keep mentees engaged by sending them an email reminder when it has been too long since meeting, or autosending surveys to collect feedback on how well the relationship is progressing. Automating these processes will save time and make the program more efficient.
An effective mentoring platform will allow you to stay in contact with your mentees at all times, offering tools such as scheduling meetings, instant messaging and setting goals.
A great mentor should constantly look for ways to assist their mentee in reaching their goals, from making introductions or offering advice regarding negotiations or projects.
