Most small-business owners will acknowledge that leadership is a skill that needs to be learned. And to cultivate that skill, you need a mentor to learn from. So how can you find the right person, or people, to help teach you how to lead and grow your business?
I’ve had the privilege of being mentored by a range of incredible individuals at every stage of my career. They’ve come from a variety of backgrounds, industries and phases of life, including retirees and working mums as well as well-known leaders in the business community. Despite their differences, there are five key traits I’ve noticed in all of them, and I believe are key to good mentorship for any small-business owner:
1. They share your passion and values
My first mentor has been guiding me for the past 17 years, but we didn’t start out with that intention. In the beginning, we were just friends who understood each other’s business interests and – most importantly – shared a passion for entrepreneurship. That passion allowed us to communicate effectively and empathise with each other’s struggles. Ensure that your mentors’ values are aligned with yours, and you’ll be able to emulate their lessons on both business and life without compromise.
2. They provide different perspectives
My mentors have hailed from outside my workplace and industry. As a result, they can give me fresh perspectives that help me make more informed decisions in a number of areas – everything from career progression to managing diversity challenges in the workplace. Whether you test ideas with them or seek their help on more practical everyday matters, diversity in your mentors’ experience will complement your own – and help you achieve more.
3. You trust them to speak the truth
A good mentor isn’t afraid to speak honestly and point out your mistakes. They need to do so in order to help you grow and improve. Your mentor should not only reveal your weaknesses and blind spots to you, but also help you resolve them with clear, action-oriented measures. At the same time, you also need to be open to receiving constructive criticism and acting on their suggestions. The level of openness between both parties ultimately determines how much you and your mentor will gain from the relationship.
4. They keep you accountable
I trust my mentors to detect when I might be straying off course from my stated aims and goals. The best mentors add a layer of discipline to their counsel: they won’t just tell you what to do, they’ll hold you to your commitments as best they can. Often when doing business, we can fall prey to our own doubts, second-guesses, and unfounded assumptions. Mentors provide that second opinion to help keep us on track.
5. You value your time with them
Mentoring relationships result in people earning more, progressing faster in their careers, and building successful businesses against the odds – but they must be relationships first and foremost. I count all my mentors among my close friends, and mentorship has almost always come after that bond of trust was already well established. Your mentors need to truly understand you as a person – from your working style to your personal fears and challenges. The greatest dividend that mentorship pays isn’t just corporate success or leadership skills, but the personal maturity and friendships that you inevitably gain. It is also in the shared successes – in celebrating wins together.
Ultimately, selecting a mentor or set of mentors is a personal decision, and subject to your own needs and values as a small-business owner. However, it’s important to remember that you will only welcome the support of your mentors – and support them in turn – if you truly value them as people and appreciate the time and effort they invest in your development.
Tara Commerford, Country Manager Australia & New Zealand, GoDaddy
