The irony is that in an age of greater communication, we as individuals and businesses often feel more isolated, we invariably want to be self reliant and but also be part of a team. We also want to occasionally have another opinion.
If you have seen some of the more ‘magical' films, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter etc, then you will know that whatever the challenges, it all works out in the end. If only being in business was like this. You do all the right things, you work hard, you strive forward and surely your business will succeed, right?
However, it's rare for it all to be like the script. Stress, worry and self doubt are like 3 characters following you on your journey, and no matter where you go, there they are. Wouldn't it be great to have a Gandalf or a Dumbledore that you bounce ideas off, ask advice or even occasionally talk to, after all business can be a lonely activity.
A mentor can help you navigate the business paths, avoid the traps and by pass any ‘great enemy' as you strive to reach your goals. A number of larger businesses offer formal mentoring programmes for their employees, especially for new employees. For the smaller business, you might need to ‘seek' one out, and sometimes it does cost to have a mentor, but the reward of having one can be many times greater,
Mentoring is often built around a long term relationship that is informal but can help small business owners learn in a more unstructured and responsive way, helping you grow in ways that isn't always possible when you are ‘on your own'.
Mentors need to be able to empathise, and have the ability to listen in order for the client to bounce ideas off and sharing of knowledge and experiences with a small business owner. The important thing is that you must have a mutual respect. Good mentors have experience, but they aren't always older than you are, but they have been there and have leaped over the hurdles.
A good mentor will meet with you on a regular basis. Your time together may be an informal walk around your workplace grounds during your break, or formal sit-down meetings at lunch, dinner or after work. You can trust a good mentor to be honest with you, sometimes brutally so and they keep current with your progress and motivates you to take action when necessary.
Centre for Business has offered mentoring for established and start up businesses since 1982, and have helped thousands of business people move forward and travel down their own road to success.
As John C Crosby once said; "Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.”
Why not give it a go?