Five Reasons Why Working With a Mentor is Good for Business
Even the most experienced of us need help sometimes. Whether you’re at the height of your professional journey as a business leader, or a budding entrepreneur launching your first start-up, having someone there to act as a stabilizing influence can mean the difference between success and failure.
October 27th 2018 is National Mentoring Day in the UK. A day set up to recognize the important role that mentors play across the business landscape and to celebrate the benefits of mentoring.
If you’re on the fence about whether or not you need a business mentor, then I hope this article can help to clarify your thoughts.
A good mentor can help you overcome your imposter syndrome
Imposter syndrome is common among business leaders. And although it often affects more women than men, none are impervious to those all-too-familiar feelings of nagging fear and doubt.
When you have imposter syndrome, you’re rooted in the fear of being discovered as a fake. A fraud. An imposter who should not under any circumstances be running a business, let alone yourbusiness. It’s an ugly, debilitating condition that has crippled thousands of business leaders around the globe.
Imposter syndrome is more than a lack of self-confidence. It’s a genuine belief that you don’t deserve your success. And, it’s an entrepreneur killer.
Working with a good mentor gives you someone that will listen to your fears and present honest, measurable feedback on whether or not you should be concerned. Although your mentor should not be a substitute for a therapist, they will be able to guide you through your sea of self-doubt and help you overcome your imposter syndrome.
Trust me. We’ve all been there.
A good mentor can help you focus
Being a leader means you can have dozens, if not hundreds of people and projects all vying for your attention at once. And that alone can be distracting to the point that you don’t actually achieve anything.
Working with a good business mentor will help you cut through the noise, draw up a plan of what’s important to you, and focus on the things that really matter.
A good mentor can keep you accountable
Has there ever been a time in your leadership career when you’ve known you’re off track? Here’s where working with a business mentor could mean the difference between achievement and defeat. Setting business goals— whether weekly, monthly or annually — is crucial for success.
Your business mentor isn’t there to set your goals for you but they are there to challenge you, keep you accountable to yourself, and nudge you in the right direction.
Talking your business goals through with a mentor is the first step to ticking them off the list.
A good mentor is your ticket to top-level contacts
Good business mentors are connected. The know people because they’ve been where you are now and they’ve paid their dues. They’ve spent time hustling and networking and they’ve built an enviable black book of contacts that could be exceptionally useful.
Sometimes, the key to success is connecting with the right people at the right time. Your business mentor can help to get you in front of some interesting people. All you have to do is ask them what (or rather who) they know.
A good mentor will act as a motivator
Business leadership is tough. Being at the top means that the buck stops with you and this pressure alone can topple the strongest and the bravest leaders.
There are times in everyone’s leadership career where they wonder if they can keep things up on their own. Where they doubt their own abilities and they just stop doing.
We all promise ourselves that tomorrow we’ll get up early and go the gym, or tomorrow we’ll return that bunch of emails, we’ll call that prospect, we’ll have that meeting, we’ll do that thing… and for whatever reason, it doesn’t quite happen.
A good business mentor can inspire you to make the right choices and work your way out of bad habits.
No-one can run a successful business on their own. Knowing where your strengths and weaknesses lie means you’re in tune with yourself, the needs of your business and can tap into the right resources when you need them most.
Now it’s your turn.Have you had an experience with a business mentor? Are you considering mentorship, but you’re not sure where to start? I’d love to hear from you.
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Have you ever considered a portfolio career as a Non-Executive Director? Join me for an intense short course that will set you on the right path.
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About Sharon Baylay
Sharon Baylay is a Level 7 CIPD Advanced Coach & Mentor, who also holds the FT/Pearson Level 7 Advanced Professional NED Diploma. Sharon is an experienced Non-Executive Director, Coach and Mentor. She holds several current positions including Non-Executive Director at Ted Baker plc, Risk Chairman at Restore plc and Remuneration Chairman at ITE Group plc. Sharon was a finalist for the Dame Helen Alexander “NED to Watch” award in 2018, and has a track record of senior leadership roles with iconic brands including Microsoft Corporation and the BBC.
© Sharon Baylay 25th October 2018
