Some common myths about mentoring

1. Mentoring is simply for folks and businesses in hassle

Using a mentor is not a weakness, but a form of professional development.

If you were employed in a corporate environment the company would give you continuous development, but business owners don’t have anyone to give them feedback, which is where a mentor comes in.

Mentoring is essential for every stage of business development from thinking about an idea, starting-up, through to expansion.

This can be anything from mentoring young people in schools to working on the ground with charities. 

“A good mentor will show someone how to take the right steps to where they want to be.”

2. You need to be very old to be a mentor

Age is irrelevant, but in business mentoring you need a substantial experience which you need to prove, to join Get Mentoring (archive), a project that aimed to train people to become business mentors.

“Experience and the ability to listen to matters most. People set up the company when they are was 21,25, etc but the business experience may be more relevant than someone who has been in business for years.”

3.Creative folks don’t have something to supply mentoring

Mentoring is about sharing your skills, knowledge, and experience with others. If you have a skill you can share, there is always someone who will benefit from it.

Creative people are good at creating environments where mentees can thrive, showing new paths and opportunities they may not have realized were open to them.

4. Finding a mentor is troublesome

The sister website of getting Mentoring, MentorBox(http://www.mentorbox.net.in) is a good starting point to find a mentor for your business, whether you are an SME or sole trader. The site lists mentoring organizations by region.

If your mentor is in the same industry as you, they are more likely to give advice. But mentoring is not about answering your problems, it helps you solve them yourself which is why someone in a different sector who can share the business experience is more useful

On the other hand, people may specifically want to become a mentor in the arts because they felt there was a lack of them. 

“The arts is a niche sector and for too long it’s been about obtaining grants. I want to show that it can stand up on its own, and generate income.

5. Mentoring takes up an excessive amount of time

There are different types of mentoring. Face-to-face, one-to-one mentoring is the most common type, so it helps if you are geographically based in the same area. If not, you can telephone, do e-mentoring, or combine them.

The needs should be dictated by the mentee, which is why the first meeting is so important. 

“Draw up an agreement, whether you want to meet monthly, or whether you only need that specific mentor for a short time.”

6. Only mentees get profit from mentoring

Mentors have a lot to gain from the mentoring process.

“As a mentor, the experience should enhance your own career development. One of the advantages of mentoring younger businesses is that you get challenged with new ideas — especially their approaches to communications.”

“When I started sharing my knowledge that’s when I realized that actually, I do know what I am talking about, which made me feel more confident about my business.”

“Mentors need to bury their own egos and give unconditionally for the time they are mentoring, they need to listen and react to needs.

7. Mentees ought to be secretive regarding sharing an excessive amount of data

It is common to feel unsure about how much you can share with a mentor, but remember it is a professional arrangement.

“Mentoring is built on trust. If you go through an organization they will have a code of conduct that covers confidentiality. If you go to an informal acquaintance, draw up your own privacy agreement.”

8. Mentors tell you what to try and do

A mentor’s role is to give an outside perspective, listen and share their own experiences, give honest and constructive feedback and unbiased support and encouragement, but they will never tell you what to do.

People receive mentoring while they setting up their business. 

“My mentors helped me process my thoughts and ideas. At 21, none of my other peers faced the same issues so mentors were my only guidance.

9. Becoming a mentor is difficult

Get Mentoring trained mentors through an online learning program. The training involved recognizing your role as a mentor, reflecting on your skills and knowledge, understanding how to apply them, identifying strengths you wish to develop further and reflecting on your own experiences and the challenges you have faced.

“I did the one-day session. After that, you are encouraged to top it up with your own learning.

10. Mentoring stops once your business booms

Mentoring relationships develop over time. 

“Mentoring can be just one session or take place over years. I have mentors for different aspects of my business, one who’s been with me for 18 years.”

“One way of knowing if mentoring is working for you is how the sessions make you feel. You should be enthused, motivated and look forward to meeting up with your mentor.

“Then there are the more tangible outcomes, whether your business is keeping on track, or whether you’ve seen any financial rewards if that’s what you were aiming for.”

FIND A MENTOR ONLINE