Could your business benefit from the support of a business mentor?
Business mentoring
Whether you're starting up, taking your business to the next level or just need a sounding board, a business mentor may be able to offer you support and guidance.
Mentoring can help you learn from experienced individuals who are specially trained and can provide you with unbiased and friendly support.
MentorSME is a free online service that enables you to locate local independent mentoring organisations that suit your specific business needs.
What can you expect from your business mentor?
A business mentor normally has extensive business experience or is knowledgeable in a particular business area, such as finance or marketing. A mentor will act as a trusted confidant to their mentee over a flexible period of time. If you are thinking of finding a business mentor, you should be clear on what you can expect from them.
Your mentor will:
- offer an outside perspective on both you and your business
- listen, confidentially, to the things that are worrying you about your business
- help you by sharing their own experience of both failure and success
- give friendly, unbiased support and guidance
- provide honest and constructive feedback
- be a sounding board for ideas
- help you with your decision making by suggesting alternatives based on personal experience
- provide contacts and networks to further your personal and business development
- provide ongoing support and encouragement
Your mentor will not:
- provide a counselling service
- give specific technical business advice, which would normally be provided by an expert business adviser
- provide a training service
- take responsibility for the success of your business away from you, the business owner
