Why Business Owners need a Mentor?

It takes courage to start entrepreneurship! Entrepreneurs are struggling with a lot of tasks at the same time and very often they feel alone in this process. What they need is support, guideline, encouragement, and motivation.

Benefits that business owners gain by having a mentor are far beyond tangible ones. They can ask questions and get the “right” answers. Usually, business owners get a lot of “advice” from their family and friends. Your mentor can help you sort out which advice to follow or not. On the other side, usually, a lot of business owners have no support from their immediate environment, even though support is crucial for their success. They need a motivator, encourager, counselor, someone who believes in them and understands what they are going through.

As a business owner, you may also have trouble looking at your business through the eyes of a customer, potential investor or governmental official. Since your business mentor has already dealt with them, he can help you understand how they see your business. A mentor can help you develop your business plan and strategies so that governmental institutions or potential investors can grant you a loan or governmental grant.

Business Mentor can help you network, meet potential clients and build potential partnerships. He or she can share his/her network with you which can bring your business to the next level.

Mentor will provide you with resources and strategies necessary for you to succeed. Your relationship with a mentor can help you improve your social, networking and communication skills.

In my own experience with so many business owners, I came to the realization that there are doing so many things at the same time. There are struggling with their market research, finding leads and clients, delivering products and services, managing their own social media platforms, etc. They often get lost in their own circle by doing the same things repeatedly while expecting different results. A good mentor should provide them with guidelines in order to exit that circle and do things differently.

A good business mentor will share mistakes other businesses have done for you to avoid the failure. Mentor will guide you and support you all the way towards your success.

Now, here are some of the characteristics of a good mentor. A good mentor possesses the following qualities:

• Willingness to share skills, knowledge, and expertise. A good mentor is willing to teach what he/she knows and accept the mentee where they currently are in their professional development. Good mentors can remember what it was like just starting out in the field. Mentor understands that good mentoring requires time and commitment and is willing to continually share information and their ongoing support with the mentee.
• Mentor demonstrates a positive attitude and acts as a positive role model.
• Takes a personal interest in the mentoring relationship.
• Good mentors are knowledgeable, compassionate, and possess the attributes of a good teacher or trainer. Excellent communication skills are also required. A good mentor is committed to helping their mentees find success. Overall, good mentoring requires empowering, motivating and encouraging the mentee to develop their own strengths, beliefs, and personal attributes.
• Good mentors continually learn and grow in their field. They are committed and open to experimenting and learning new practices. They continually read professional journals and may even write articles on subjects where they have developed some expertise. They are excited to share their knowledge with new people entering the field and take their role seriously in teaching their knowledge to others. They may choose to teach or attend classes to further develop their knowledge and skills. They enjoy taking workshops and attending professional conferences provided through their membership in professional associations.
• They provide guidance and constructive feedback to the mentee.
• They set and meet ongoing personal and professional goals.
• They value the opinions and initiatives of others.

Good mentor-mentee relationships are a two-way street; consequently, if you want a good relationship with your mentor, become a good mentee. This requires a genuine interest in your mentor and a willingness to do what it takes to become successful. Following suggestions and recommendations as well as reading all literature available in the field is a good way to show your mentor that you are committed to being successful.

I personally see the relationship between my clients and me as a win-win situation. We are both learning from each other.

My name is Alisa Ploco and I’m a certified and experienced Business Mentor. By sharing my knowledge, skills, and experience from the marketing and sales field, including best practices, I help businesses succeed. I motivate and encourage business owners and guide them toward success.

If you think I can be a resource for you or anyone you know in these areas, I’d love to talk to you. You can contact me on [email protected].

Thank you for taking the time to read this article.

Learn more by reading my other article on LinkedIn

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/who-your-biz-mentor-alisa-ploco/

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/psychology-color-marketing-branding-alisa-ploco/

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/want-rank-better-google-search-try-voice-alisa-ploco

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/failure-stepping-stone-success-alisa-ploco

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