Ok so your interesting in using a mentor but how do you start the right way so that you and your mentor understand your relationship needs. It is important to assess compatibility and build your relationship first so that you feel comfortable sharing personal experiences and feelings. It needs to feel a safe space.
Where do you find a mentor?
A mentor can be found in many places like a close friend, a business club, work colleague or a professional mentor. You can have different mentors for different areas of your life such as life, finance and work. It is important that they are someone that inspires you and holds skills and experience that fill your knowledge gap to enable you to progress.
What is the difference between a mentor and a coach?
Are you aware of the difference between mentoring and coaching? Maybe it is something that you need an awareness of to ensure that you have the right relationship from the start and to help you to find the right person for you.
There are so many unique businesses and individuals out there today that it can sometimes be difficult to spot which one and who is going to be the best match for you. Let’s look at what I feel the subtle differences are between mentoring and coaching to help you gain some clarity. I once heard a very good statement that I feel is good for distinguishing the two: ‘Mentoring is relational while coaching is functional’. Before I get protests that does not mean you don’t build a relationship with your coach, I just feel that my relationship in particular with my clients is personal and business transformation which is different to a business coach.
The dictionary definition of a coach is ‘someone who trains you to accomplish a task or goal’ or ‘someone who teaches people to improve at a skill or sport’ also ‘helping them to prepare for something’.
We have support, training and guidance, all good stuff. I believe that there are definitely a lot of good people that cross over the border between coaching and mentoring and as I say wear many hats. My personal opinion at the extreme end of the coaching spectrum I see is often following a program of knowledge, or even a program set out for you to reach an end goal. The coach has practical tools and techniques or building blocks to use to help you achieve what you need and will hold you accountable to those predefined actions. Driving you to take action for results, the focus is on the method!
So where do I see the opposite end of the spectrum in the mentoring role?
If we look at the dictionary definition for a mentor we find ‘an experienced and trusted advisor’ and ‘someone who gives you advice over a period of time’. You can say that it is to teach, support and give guidance, as would any coach. In addition a mentor brings solutions and offers a new perspective to bring about a solution to a problem or path.
My feedback from clients is that I am a positive influence that inspires them and whether you pick a coach or mentor then this should be the aim.
Where I feel the difference lies is in the deep personal connection, helping you recognise the path or journey you are on both personally and in business and to clarify the purpose and vision of the individual. I am always looking at the person on a deeper level and using guidance and intuition along the way. This spiritual connection in the relationship has to be a good fit for both parties which is why I may or may not be a good fit for people I meet. A mentor teaches you to tune into your passion, strengths and core belief system, helping you to shine in the way only you can focusing I believe on a much wider holistic development.
The benefits of having a business mentor
A mentor will stretch you to just beyond your comfort level, not in excess so as to create stress and overwhelm but enable you to reach a potential beyond what you see yourself capable of. This is always where the magic happens! A mentor path is unique to the individual, no program or system. It is about being able to recognise what works for each individual and their journey.
My definition of a business mentor is someone who strikes a balance between expert business advice and the empathy with the individuals personal journey and mindset; getting them personally ready for each step. It is a professional relationship where resources, knowledge and networks are shared to enhance the mentee’s professional and personal growth.
So how can we make sure that both parties are happy from the outset?
Clarify in your head what you want out of the relationship.
As best you can write down your expectations and the extent you want that person to play a part in your life. I always say imagine a newspaper article about you in 6 months time what would it be saying? What would you be celebrating and how? Is there anything that you need specific help with?
For example industry knowledge, networking, business skills planning and visualisation. Setting some objectives will ensure that you are clear to your mentor and they understand your personal and professional needs, helping them see if you are a good fit for them.
Make absolutely clear the commitment you are both giving .
Once you’ve found someone who agrees to be your mentor, make sure you can give the same commitment and share the same passion for your goals and expectations. Your mentor is investing in your future also and needs to be excited by the prospect of working with you. Discuss and establish a regular meeting and/or update schedule.
Make a draft plan to start off the work.
At the start there will be a lot of work around establishing where you are and building on what you want to achieve. If you have done your homework and established some preliminary goals/objectives make a list of topics that you would like to cover, areas you might like to discuss. These will prove to be great conversation starters and help you get into the new routine.
Talk about your skills.
What knowledge, skills, networks and abilities possessed by you and your mentor are going to benefit you most in achieving your current objectives.
Who will initiate the interaction?
Please be clear who is going to do the coordinating and organising, don’t wait for the other to ring being polite.
How will you know things are working?
Set up some parameters that you both agree to measure how things are progressing, define what success looks and feels like.
How do you handle conflict and feedback?
What would move you to terminate the relationship? A difficult one but an understanding that needs to be clear. It is important to understand that a mentor role is to give advice, but you are responsible for whether you take that advice or not and how you apply knowledge that is passed across. Your mentor must be ready for this; which is why I always say that a family member is not the wisest choice as a mentor. Choose your mentor wisely you do not want someone that is trying to produce a clone! You need to be receptive to constructive feedback on both sides.
Maintain confidentiality.
The sessions are between you and your mentor, have an agreement in place to maintain that.
