5 Things To Consider When Choosing A Business Mentor

November 26, 2007

Most of us could do with a good business mentor or two. But, before you go hammering on Richard Branson’s door, here’s few things to consider:

Mentors Are Busy People: Whilst many people will be happy to give you a bit of advice - don’t expect to monopolise their time.

Not Everyone Is A Good Mentor: Have they had business experience, or did they just take a business course? Have they actually ever employed everyone, or are they just self employed? Being self employed is not the same as running a business.

Do They Think They Know It All? I was speaking to a friend yesterday and coincidentally, his old boss was his new boss’s mentor. Unfortunately, his new boss had also acquired his old boss’s weaknesses. And he said this was simply because his old boss thought he knew everything.

Nobody knows everything and you don’t want a mentor who thinks they do. So, ask them what their weaknesses are, and what mistakes they’ve made in business. If they don’t admit to any, they’re not going to be a good mentor.

Are You Going To Listen To Them Anyway?Many people starting out in business will constantly ask for advice, then not put any of it into practise. I’m not suggesting you do everything your mentor tells you, but do be prepared to put their best advice into practise and also give them feedback. There’s nothing more frustrating than a mentee who never listens.

Do You Want To Be Like Them? Be careful who you take advice from, no matter how successful they seem. For example, if you want to build a successful business, eventually reduce your working hours to 10 a week, enabling you to have a balanced life, don’t choose a mentor who is divorced, works 80 hours a week and is well on the way to having a second heart attack.

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Comments

8 Responses to “5 Things To Consider When Choosing A Business Mentor”

Opal Tribble on November 26th, 2007 11:08 am

As always you give excellent tips. I have encountered the know it alls throughout my business life. It is frustrating! My mentors are those I want to be like in their business and personal life.
Thomas Sinfield on November 26th, 2007 11:42 am

Mentors are fantastic, I have a few people who I consider as mentors that probably don’t even realise it. I don’t think mentoring always has to be something structured.
Tibi Puiu on November 26th, 2007 12:56 pm

The points above go for any kind of consultancy, especially the mistakes admittance. We all make mistakes, not acknowledging them is plain arrogant, and not mentoring material.
Bontb on November 26th, 2007 2:51 pm

I like mentors but as you said they are busy “some of them” anyways thanks for visiting my blog and leaving post. Hope seo digger will really help you
cathlawson on November 26th, 2007 3:19 pm

Thanks Opal. I used to think anyone who had a successful business was a good mentor - then I realised that I also wanted a life out of work!

Thomas - that is so true. You don’t even have to meet some mentors. You can also learn a lot from reading their biographies etc.

Tibi Puiu - too right but many people do it. And the plain truth is, you just couldn’t build a successful business without making a heap of mistakes.

Bontb - that is the trouble - anyone worth learning from is also v busy. But they’re usually good at maximising their time, so you can learn from the quicker. I enjoyed your blogpost by the way and SEO Digger sounds like a great tool.
Ian on November 27th, 2007 5:57 am

I think out of all, getting a balacne out of work is the tough one - especially if you’ve been down the road of too many hours!
Barbara on November 27th, 2007 8:07 am

I think mentors are great, however, sometimes what worked/works for them, may not work for you. No two circumstances will be identical, so what you learn may have to be tweaked to fit your situation. Then, we need to remember to take responsibility for our own actions.

I would hate to mentor someone, and then have them blame me because “It” didn’t work for them, as well as it did for me.

BTW: Catherine, it’s great having you back after your bout with the flu. Glad you are feeling better.
cathlawson on November 27th, 2007 3:42 pm

Ian - getting out of the too many hours scenario can be tough. Often it takes a health scare to do the trick!

Thanks Barbara - it’s great to be feeling well again. I agree - it would be awful to be blamed for giving the wrong advice. I hope nobody tries something I suggest on this blog then blames me if it goes wrong! I hadn’t thought of that.