Top Tips To Being a Great Mentor

Photo: Hung Nguyen

Having a good mentor who has experience can be invaluable and you will find that most entrepreneurs are more than happy to give their time and advice to people starting out. Mentoring somebody who is new to business is not always straightforward - there can be many challenges, both with the business and the mentee themselves. Here are some key skills needed to become a good mentor.

lPatience

To fully understand the issues that affect the person you are helping you need to understand their business and what stage it is at in its development. The first stage in the mentoring process is the ability to sit and listen to the person and talk about their business. All the best mentors are the people who actually have the ability to listen and take on board what is being said to them. Remember communication is always a two way process.

lHonesty

Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind and that is why it is vital to be as honest and frank as possible throughout the mentoring process. Owner managers, especially those who run small family outfits, are often the last people to fully grasp the problems and issues facing a business. Often an outsider coming to a business with an open mind can spot a fault or a problem easier than those closest to the issue. The key is to be honest and up front rather than taking the route of avoiding difficult and sensitive issues.

lFocus

The focus of any mentoring session should always be the person who comes for help and advice. As well as being able to listen, a mentor should focus on the problems and issues at hand. After all, the whole point of the exercise is to offer support, advice and expertise to those who are at the beginning of the business journey.

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Source: forbes.com