What is business mentorship?
Mentorship is a relationship built on trust in which a more senior leader, or mentor, provides guidance and support to a less experienced person, called the mentee. The mentor shares their knowledge, expertise and contacts with the mentee with the hope of developing leadership skills and abilities of the mentee so they can reach their full potential. The professional relationship can benefit both parties involved as it provides the mentee with an opportunity to learn from someone successful in their field while also allowing the mentor to stay sharp and up-to-date on industry changes.
Many different types of mentorships can take place in a business setting. A traditional mentor/mentee relationship usually involves a senior employee mentoring a more junior employee. Still, mentors do not necessarily have to be more senior than their mentees. What matters is that the mentor has knowledge and experience that the mentee can learn from. Some mentorships may involve employees from different levels within an organization. In contrast, others may involve people from different organizations who come together for a specific purpose.
Why is mentorship important for the business?
Mentorships are very useful because they help individuals develop and gain competence for their career development. This opportunity will be crucial if organizations seek to retain and engage employees. Furthermore, it has been shown that people participating in mentorship programs are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs and have a higher sense of self-efficacy.
Mentorship has been shown to benefit employees by improving communication skills, providing support for career advancement and enabling knowledge transfer from experienced senior employees.
Mentorship can also help businesses achieve their goals. By developing employees’ skills, businesses can improve their productivity and performance. Additionally, mentorship can create a talent pipeline within an organization, making it easier to succession plan and transfer knowledge between employees.
Why should you consider working with a mentor?
An experienced mentor can provide valuable assistance at the early stages of the entrepreneurial journey and younger employees’ personal and professional growth. Mentoring relationships have many benefits. Here are some of the key ways in which a mentor can help:
- A mentor can be a sounding board to provide impartial advice and support.
- A mentor can help you gain confidence by developing your problem-solving skills.
- A mentor can help you clarify your business goals and career trajectory.
- A mentor can help you develop a strategic plan to achieve your professional goals.
- A mentor can help you access their network of contacts in the business world.
- A mentor can provide advice on marketing and sales strategies.
- A mentor can help you develop your business skills.
- A mentor can provide emotional support during difficult times and help overcome challenges.
If you are thinking about starting a business or are in the early stages of your entrepreneurial journey, working with a mentor can be an invaluable experience.
Something often overlooked is that when successful mentoring relationships are created, the mentor is now invested in your success and professional development. Successful mentors become invested in your career growth and success.
How does business mentorship work?
There are a few different ways that business mentorship can work. The most common type of mentorship is when an experienced employee mentors a more junior employee within the same organization. This type of mentorship can be very beneficial for both parties, as it allows the mentee to learn from someone successful in their field and the mentor to stay sharp and up-to-date on industry changes.
Another way that business mentorship can work is when employees from different organizations come together for a specific purpose. This type of mentorship can be helpful for businesses that are seeking to improve their performance or achieve specific goals. Additionally, it can create a talent pipeline within an organization, making it easier to succession plan and transfer knowledge between employees.
Mentorship can also take place outside of the business setting. For example, many mentorship programs pair experienced professionals with students or recent graduates seeking career guidance. These mentorship relationships can be very beneficial for both parties, as they allow the mentee to learn from someone with a wealth of experience and the mentor to stay sharp and up-to-date on industry changes.
What are the benefits of business mentorship?
There are many benefits of business mentorship. Here are some of the key benefits:
1. Mentorship can help businesses achieve their goals.
2. Mentorship can improve employees’ productivity and performance.
3. Mentorship can create a talent pipeline within an organization, making it easier to succession plan and transfer knowledge between employees.
4. Mentorship can help businesses develop their skills.
5. Mentorship can provide emotional support during difficult times.
A successful mentoring relationship is often a critical element of professional development, enhancing the mentee’s leadership skills, passing on valuable knowledge and helping instill confidence in the more junior employees.
How to choose a good mentor
Mentorship can positively impact an individual’s career, but it is important to remember that not all relationships will be successful. Choosing a mentor who respects and has the experience and expertise you are looking for is essential. Furthermore, both parties must be committed to the relationship and willing to invest the time and effort required to succeed.
Here are some tips for choosing a good mentor:
1. Define your goals. What do you hope to achieve through mentorship?
2. Do your research. Talk to people in your field and ask for recommendations.
3. Consider your chemistry. Choosing a mentor with whom you have a good rapport is important.
4. Set expectations. Be clear about what you expect from the relationship and what your mentor can expect from you.
5. Be patient. Mentorship relationships take time to develop. Don’t expect instant results.
What skills to look for in a mentor
When looking for a mentor, it is important to consider what you hope to achieve through the relationship. Do you want someone who can provide advice on your career development? Someone who can help you develop your business skills? Or someone who can provide emotional support during difficult times?
You may have heard of the 3 C’s or even 3 A’s of mentorship:
3 C’s of mentorship
1. Commitment 2. Communication 3. Chemistry
3 A’s of mentorship
1. Attention 2. Availability 3. Appreciation
These are all qualities to look for, but just because they exist, it doesn’t necessarily follow that a mentor has the requisite skills to support you.
1. Leadership skills
2. Business skills
3. Communication skills
4. Relationship-building skills
5. Problem-solving skills
6. Interpersonal skills
7. Emotional intelligence
8. Experienced in your field or sector
9. Connections in the same industry
10. Willing to invest the time and effort required for the relationship to succeed
These are just some of the skills to look for in a mentor. It is important to remember that not all mentors will have all of these skills, and that’s okay. The important thing is to choose a mentor with the skills you are looking for and with whom you have a good rapport.
What next?
Some larger companies have a formal workplace mentoring program. Such programs indicate that your company is invested in developing its team. Speak to your manager or HR department and ask to be enrolled in their mentorship program.
Of course, your company may not have any mentoring programs, but it doesn’t mean they are not committed to your success. So I encourage you to begin building relationships with the role models within your place of work or within your industry.
Finally, I want you to remember that receiving mentorship is not a passive assignment; otherwise, the mentor will soon be a drain.
I encourage you to honour the mentor’s intention and role. There are some simple behaviours you can adopt to support you:
- Ask and act on the mentor’s valuable guidance
- Seek honest feedback
- Demonstrate humility
- Adopt a positive attitude
- Have the courage to discuss ideas
- Avoid gossip
Mentoring works! Both the Mentor and the Mentee want the relationship to succeed. Never forget that no matter which role you adopt, you will grow because of the mentorship experience.
