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A mentor has been defined as a trusted advisor who provides you with the tools, guidance, and feedback you need to succeed in your career.

She/he is someone who needs to be connected to your life and consistent enough to advise you over a period of time. That said, a mentorship relationship can last for years or a brief time; my shortest mentoring was 6 months and my longest 5 years.

1. Identifies Your Needs and Strengths

Everyone has unique strengths and weaknesses. A good mentor understands this and works to learn what makes their mentee tick.

A great mentor knows how to build your weaknesses and expand your strengths, so you fill in important skill gaps. One thing which will help you incredibly, is the ability to recognise that a certain level of urgency will accelerate the process, but you cannot expect that from your Team unless they love you or are really inspired.

2. Tough Feedback

It's tough to give honest feedback. It requires incredible communication skills and a level of openness that not many people are comfortable with. That's why a mentor who "finds ways for you to grow in areas inside and outside the workplace" is irreplaceable, said Ashlie Benson, Chief of Staff for Agricycle Global.

Your personal growth is by far the most important as far as I’m concerned, as this will help you not only in business but life itself; sooner than later you may find that you have crossed the bridge to the place where work can be play also-this is my approach.

3. Has Your Trust and Respect

For any mentor-mentee relationship to last – and be beneficial for both sides – you need to be able to have difficult conversations. This can include talking through issues that arise at work (such as salary negotiations, promotions, difficulties with a colleague or manager, team members, encouraging team to have their own personal and career goals) or those that arise from not having a supportive network of friends, family, or colleagues. In my experience the Team that thinks a Mentor is a waste of time, is a Team that blocks the growth process for the Business Owner.

4. Expresses Empathy

It’s said that empathy is important for every working relationship, but it's an essential quality for mentorship. I’d put it another way and say that the degree to which you’re interested in people is the degree to which you will find the right mentor. If you’re only interested in making money and pushing everything else aside, you will never have a team that loves you and certainly you will not be a fit with me.

5. Has Relevant Knowledge and Skills

They say that of all the traits to look for in a mentor, this one usually matters most. I would disagree entirely with this premise but understand the principle.

A mentor does not necessarily need to be acquainted with your business BUT does need to be acquainted with the chassis of every business. He/she may or may not have even had their own business or businesses but having had them will certainly give them the empathy often needed to understand how you’re feeling when at the crossroads, can’t make a decision, under the pump or feeling screwed over by the world.

It's easy to hand out advice, but it takes skill to know whether that advice is great for the person you give it to and in the right moment.

Sometimes, they simply listen, but more importantly they will respond in the moment and out of awareness and sensitivity to the occasion, even though it may go against all the values you hold dear.

6. Invested in Your Growth and Development

Mentors help you grow both personally and professionally by sharing ways to improve your business, prevent you making the mistakes they may have made and seen others make, and might suggest you experiment with what they feel will help you.

But what sets the best mentors apart is the ability to focus on your development as well as their own. If a mentor also puts time into developing themselves and breaking out of their comfort zones, you've found a gem.

They are usually life-long learners, and not only do they pursue their own passions, but they also encourage your goals and creativity.

7. Ability to Devote Time to Mentorship

Many people have the qualities to be good mentors but can't devote the time it demands. A mentor-mentee relationship takes a LOT of effort from both sides- without commitment and totality, it simply won't work.

Some of your mentors may only be around for a brief time, while others may be around for lifetime.

Whatever the case, your life journey will be doubly difficult unless you find someone who you resonate with, has already succeeded in the world and who has your back, as they say.

Chris Borrett