How do you measure the effectiveness of your small business mentor or coach?

In my experience as a coach and having had a coach its important to be clear on your expectations as well as being accountable for the efforts put in to achieving the required results, I like to see progress and like my clients to see their progression too, so I always check in with them at the beginning of every session to see how they have implemented the previous sessions learning into their business, It shows commitment and they can see the progress made too, if there are any issues to address its easier to address and redirect at each session rather than at the end of the programme

As the business owner, I'll define clear expectations when seeking a mentor. Success will be measured by revenue growth, new customer acquisition and product development. I aim to meet with a mentor in the beginning weekly, and then monthly for about an hour to discuss strategies and challenges. The type of feedback I find most helpful is objective assessments of my business plan and ideas for improvement. Clarifying my objectives and ideal engagement upfront allows finding the right mentor match focused on my most pressing needs and goals for this stage of the journey. The objectives and needs for a small business can change frequently. Hence a specialist mentor to match those needs is a must.

Funnily enough, I just met with a client who is starting out on starting his own business and I just asked him this question, today. He wasn't sure. He said well, I guess spiritually and financially because I'll spiritually help my customers but it will financially help me. I think that was insightful - I think *most* of us who went into business did it because we like helping others but we also want to make money, right? So I'd measure them both.

In my engagements the first question we tackle is what problem to work on first. A rambling coach is a problem. They should be there to help keep you focused on the goal.

In my experience as the player and the coach, figuratively and literally speaking, I think it all boils down to one simple word. Results. Results are the consummate measure as the whether the information that was imparted has value or not. But I would be careless not to mention the importance of being coachable and teachable along with the willingness to put in the work. I must point out that as long as there is a passion for the discipline. No matter what that may be. It’s never truly work. It’s just been compensated for something that you like to do. Obviously, make sure the mentor has earned their stripes and everything else is merely academic.

As a mentor and have done mentoring for Score.org, it’s been a pleasure. The mentees get so much out of their sessions. Anywhere from starting to in in-between of growing their businesses. Plus Score offers many workshops as well.

To determine if my mentor is effective, I'll regularly assess tangible results. Are my sales and new customer targets being hit? Is product development moving forward? Am I expanding to new markets as planned this year? Overcoming challenges more quickly? Gaining skills in areas like marketing and finance? If I can answer yes, the mentoring relationship is delivering value and propelling my goals. Progress isn't always linear, so patience through ups and downs is important. But with consistent forward momentum and application of my mentor's strategic guidance, I can say with confidence that this partnership is enriching my entrepreneurial journey.

You raise excellent points on evaluating the interpersonal aspects of a mentoring relationship beyond tangible results. Open, respectful communication and compatible values build trust and rapport. Quality mentors offer candid yet constructive feedback that stretches our thinking while still encouraging our talents. They act with integrity by honoring our boundaries. Growth accelerates when fueled by mutual understanding. Assessing fit ensures alignment, while adapting the relationship over time enables continued relevance. With commitment from both people, mentorship can evolve into a cherished partnership that enriches each phase of our entrepreneurial journeys.

Surveying stakeholders like customers and partners for feedback on business growth is as honest as it gets. Their outside perspectives offer objective data to complement our own assessments. Noticing their improved satisfaction, referrals and compliments indicates my mentor's guidance is enhancing performance and reputation. My mentor helps me identify blind spots in my leadership and operations based on stakeholder input. Combining third-party observations with our measured results and relationship quality allows evaluating mentorship impact from all angles. Comprehensive feedback empowers continuously improving to maximize this partnership.

It’s pretty easy to do this these days and your office suite likely already has the capability built-in. I make a habit of surveying clients regularly. Give it a go. You’ll be surprised by the answers.

Excellent point on reviewing the formal agreement with my mentor. How long is the commitment and what are the financial terms? Does the value align with the investment? Are there any issues needing resolution under the contract terms? Periodically revisiting expectations ensures the relationship stays transparent and productive. Quality mentors uphold agreements that nourish growth. Assessing satisfaction on both sides allows revising terms if the collaboration has naturally evolved. Clear communication & adaptability enables recalibrating while preserving trust. Honoring formal commitments demonstrates mutual respect and accountability. With alignment, even contracts become more of a compass than a map to empower our journey together.

I'd agree that as we evolve as professionals, we need different people to take us to next levels. It's like finding your Superstar player - Tom Brady - to help you win your next Super Bowl. Ace your next challenge. Keep in touch with the original coach, but do the tougher workouts with someone who can help you flex new business pro muscles.

There are different types of coaching available to consider. A private coach you meet with individually is a great idea! However, solopreneurs, especially, have found success in untraditional ways. Every morning I receive an email from a well-known leadership coach (it would be TOTALLY unaffordable for me to meet with him individually). I've attended events hosted by him. Small groups of us have formed Accountability Groups or Mastermind Groups. We take concepts and principles learned and encourage each other to achieve BIG goals, moving each other forward. Different types of learning in budget-friendly format.

The ultimate outcome of effective coaching is an upgraded experience of self and an upgraded experience of life. With that in mind we can measure our progress using these 5 modalities. Clarity: am I clearer than I was in a way that makes me feel a greater level of certainty about who I am and how to navigate through a problem/challenge/obstacle? Direction: Do I have a clear sense of the direction I am heading in? Focus: Do a have a clear idea of what to place my attention on in order to more effectively and skilful produce my desired experience? Strategy: Do I have a clear set of steps to take in order to achieve my desired experience in a way that works for me? Support: Do I feel supported and heard?