I think most small business owners have someone that they look up to and respect to bounce ideas off of during the development of the business. Maybe it was another business owner. Maybe it was a parent. But are they still assisting with your business today?
As a small business owner it is important that you have someone in your corner to help mentor you along the way, for as long as it takes to help your business succeed.
I tried to find if there was a report or study that was out there of successful business owners and whether they use mentors. I know the numbers must be high as many business owners I know and have spoken to did have a mentor that helped encourage them along the way to success.
1. A mentor can help in areas of your business where you don't have a lot of experience. They can teach you areas of business that you may not know and help guide you through rough spots. They can help identify areas that you may need additional training or support and they can recommend how and where to find the assistance you need.
2. Mentors are also great for support, encouragement, and instilling confidence when the road gets tough. Sometimes you need someone in your corner to just tell you you're doing a good job and it's going to be successful. We all have days when we really need to get off the pity party and get to work.
3. Mentors are also invaluable when it comes to seeing what will work and what will not work when it comes to your business model. They can share what worked for them and what didn't work quite so well. A Mentor can help solve problems and issues, and even help if restructuring needs to occur to make your business run smoother. Sometimes we get stuck in our own vision and don't see outside influences or a way that would work a little bit better.
4. Another reason a mentor can help with your small business is by getting you out of your comfort zone. This is especially important if you have been in business for a while but are not seeing the type of growth or development you have been hoping for. Sometimes we get in a rut and don't see the issues but a mentor can help identify areas where we have settled instead of breaking through to different ideas that may work better.
5. Mentors are also perfect for helping with improving skills such as leadership, working with employees, public speaking, speaking to business leaders, and other critical business skills. Development in these areas can be a critical part of your business that can make or break a sale or client success.
These are just a few areas where a mentor can be invaluable for your small business development. Find someone that you trust who is willing to take the time to lead and share business information. The success of your business could really be enhanced by using a mentor