Just like every sports team has a coach on the sideline, analysing the game, changing players and tactics, motivating and guiding, every business needs a mentor for similar reasons.Business mentoring - every business needs an outside support to help analyse the business, guide their general direction and provide outside knowledge and motivation.A recent study found that only 2% of people are capable of working without supervision so most business owners need somebody to help guide them.
Working with a mentor who has much experience is always advisable. This allows you to learn from your mentor and may help you avoid making the same mistakes your mentor had made in the past, saving you much time and effort as well as financially. You always need the expertise and guidance that only an experienced mentor can contribute to.You want to find a mentor who is willing to put in the time to not only teach you what needs to be done in order to build a successful business but also someone whom you can reach out to anytime you need help. Having a mentor whom you can talk to will aid in alleviating much stress. From day-to-day issues to major problems, you should be able to look to your mentor for being a source of guidance.
A mentor should assist in providing you with support and ideas in moving forward. Once your goals and targets have been drawn up, your mentor should help in improving your current systems. For instance if you need help in the financial side of the business, your mentor will assist in drawing up a budget and in planning a financial system that will fit in easily with your business.
Expert knowledge - most owner/managers worked in the business as a haidresser or architect before starting their own business. They will have picked up other skills along the way but there may be some gaps in their knowledge. Many mentors will have experience of finance, sales, marketing, strategy, HR etc. so they can help plug any knowledge gaps that the owner may have.
A second opinion - quite often business owners know what to do or have a good idea of the next step but they are not 100% convinced that it's the way to go, so they don't proceed. Discussing it with a mentor often helps them realise that it's the right move and it gives them the confidence to go ahead. Being in business can be a lonely place and it may be difficult to discuss things with staff or a partner or friends.especially in tough economic times, it can be difficult sometimes to keep motivated. Part of the role of a mentor is to encourage the owner, highlight the positives and reassure them that they have a great business. This can be invaluable support for any business owner.
All good business mentors will be happy to meet with you to talk through your business and mentoring needs. The meeting helps both parties find out if you can work together and create a mutually beneficial outcome. After the meetings go back to your criteria and ask yourself which of the people you have met would help you the most. Ultimately you need to assess this before you look at their costs and timeframes, mentors who charge less likely do so for a reason.
If you randomly decide when you will and won't work, you'll likely spend too much time behind your computer and find that family is suffering or you are not putting in enough time. Keep track of the hours you contribute toward money generating activities in your business and hold yourself accountable. Do this because that's what a home business coach/leader does. You are not in the business of convincing your business partner to stay in the business if they are not putting forth the effort. That's not what I'm talking about. What I am talking about is that most home based business owners do not get adequate support and you, as a home business mentor, will be their breath of fresh air. Remind them of their dreams and their why. Let them know they are not alone in their business and encourage them to reach out to the online community and establish new relationships with like-minded people. Do this because that's what a home business coach/leader does.Don't be afraid to make them work. Do not do the work for them, but certainly it's OK to show them some things and point them to information or resources where they can master what they need to learn. People want confident instructions, good ideas and resources.Let them see you work. Let them see your fresh new content being placed online on a consistent basis. Leading by example has been defined as the best thing you can do as a leader. When they can see you placing ads, participating in the social media platforms, putting up videos, attending seminars, doing webinars, they can see you practice what you preach.
[Business Mentor]
Working with a mentor who has much experience is always advisable. This allows you to learn from your mentor and may help you avoid making the same mistakes your mentor had made in the past, saving you much time and effort as well as financially. You always need the expertise and guidance that only an experienced mentor can contribute to.You want to find a mentor who is willing to put in the time to not only teach you what needs to be done in order to build a successful business but also someone whom you can reach out to anytime you need help. Having a mentor whom you can talk to will aid in alleviating much stress. From day-to-day issues to major problems, you should be able to look to your mentor for being a source of guidance.
A mentor should assist in providing you with support and ideas in moving forward. Once your goals and targets have been drawn up, your mentor should help in improving your current systems. For instance if you need help in the financial side of the business, your mentor will assist in drawing up a budget and in planning a financial system that will fit in easily with your business.
Expert knowledge - most owner/managers worked in the business as a haidresser or architect before starting their own business. They will have picked up other skills along the way but there may be some gaps in their knowledge. Many mentors will have experience of finance, sales, marketing, strategy, HR etc. so they can help plug any knowledge gaps that the owner may have.
A second opinion - quite often business owners know what to do or have a good idea of the next step but they are not 100% convinced that it's the way to go, so they don't proceed. Discussing it with a mentor often helps them realise that it's the right move and it gives them the confidence to go ahead. Being in business can be a lonely place and it may be difficult to discuss things with staff or a partner or friends.especially in tough economic times, it can be difficult sometimes to keep motivated. Part of the role of a mentor is to encourage the owner, highlight the positives and reassure them that they have a great business. This can be invaluable support for any business owner.
All good business mentors will be happy to meet with you to talk through your business and mentoring needs. The meeting helps both parties find out if you can work together and create a mutually beneficial outcome. After the meetings go back to your criteria and ask yourself which of the people you have met would help you the most. Ultimately you need to assess this before you look at their costs and timeframes, mentors who charge less likely do so for a reason.
If you randomly decide when you will and won't work, you'll likely spend too much time behind your computer and find that family is suffering or you are not putting in enough time. Keep track of the hours you contribute toward money generating activities in your business and hold yourself accountable. Do this because that's what a home business coach/leader does. You are not in the business of convincing your business partner to stay in the business if they are not putting forth the effort. That's not what I'm talking about. What I am talking about is that most home based business owners do not get adequate support and you, as a home business mentor, will be their breath of fresh air. Remind them of their dreams and their why. Let them know they are not alone in their business and encourage them to reach out to the online community and establish new relationships with like-minded people. Do this because that's what a home business coach/leader does.Don't be afraid to make them work. Do not do the work for them, but certainly it's OK to show them some things and point them to information or resources where they can master what they need to learn. People want confident instructions, good ideas and resources.Let them see you work. Let them see your fresh new content being placed online on a consistent basis. Leading by example has been defined as the best thing you can do as a leader. When they can see you placing ads, participating in the social media platforms, putting up videos, attending seminars, doing webinars, they can see you practice what you preach.
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