How to Find a Business Mentor
Finding a mentor is one of the biggest steps you can do to help your career. But much like going to the dentist, it’s something that most entrepreneurs know is a valuable step, yet is often put off, indefinitely. Here are a few tips to find a meaningful mentor for your business.
Where to Find Mentors
Mentorship is a relationship. Done right, it’s more of a friendship.
- You’ll need to be prepared to reach out to many people in the hopes of finding the right mentor, but not everyone is ready for a friendship just yet.
Focus on What You Bring to the Table
Mentorship isn’t a one-way street, and your mentor gets something out of it as well
- Look at it more as a business friendship at first, and then a mentoring relationship as an extension of that
Formal Mentorship Programs
These programs can be especially easy to find a mentor through because people are already pre-vetted and willing to serve as mentors.
- The downside is that there’s no guarantee you’ll be paired with someone who can best help you reach your goal.
Start Meeting People
Reach out to one or two people at a time, and ask for an informational meeting. Tell them you’re thinking about an idea or starting X, Y, Z business, and would appreciate a bit of their time if they can spare it.
- A good place to meet (in normal times) is a cafe for a “coffee chat.” Pay for their coffee.
Informal Mentorship Opportunities
These types of relationships arise organically without any outside intervention
- Can be among the most valuable because you can seek out the best person to help you achieve your goals
- Alumni networks
- Trade groups
- Non-profit organizations
- Local business organizations
Extending the Relationship
Ask the person if you can come to them for business advice again in the future
How to Start a Mentoring Relationship
Several things you can do to boost your confidence in approaching a potential mentor: approach them, ask them for advice, and get them to give you a confidential, non-threatening assessment of your personality and ask if you have any questions.
Be Clear About What You Want
Be clear about what you want
- You need to know in what general direction you’re looking to go in your career
- It’s also a good idea to know what specifically you are looking for help with
- Mentors are not necessarily coaches, they are tools to help yourself