This month at EnMast, we’re talking about the value of business-owner communities. Within your community, I hope you are fortunate to have one or two (or three or four!) business mentors.
As we often say here at EnMast, there is no need to reinvent the wheel in business; the answers are usually somewhere — you just have to find them. This especially applies to leadership. When you’re struggling to figure out who you are as a leader — or even if you’re not — simply start watching other leaders and copying what they do!
One of the best ways to do this is to get a business mentor. A business mentor could be an older and wiser business owner or a young spitfire who seems to have the world in his hands right now. You know who the right mentor is for you when you catch yourself thinking, “I want to be like her,” or “I want what he has.”
And when you feel that way, you simply ask, “Could we meet sometime?” And you see how that goes, and if it’s good, you pop the question: Would you be my business mentor?
Don’t worry, you won’t look like a groupie or stalker. In fact, the person will likely be very flattered and happy to accommodate you. Business mentoring is a well-known tactic that has been used by many successful business people. For instance, Warren Buffett is Bill Gates’ business mentor and Thomas Edison was Henry Ford’s mentor.
Who would be a good mentor for you? A name might pop right into your head or you might need to go out there and find one. But in general, good mentors have these qualities:
- They are personable and good communicators. You don’t want your mentoring experience to be painful. Make sure you interact well with this person before asking to hang out with them on a regular basis.
- They are good listeners and are interested in you. You don’t want to have one-sided conversations all the time. Make sure the mentor expresses a real interest in you and your business.
- They have good character. What is this person like outside of work? What is their family life like? Do they give back to the community?
- They are highly regarded by other people. While you may think highly of this person, do others feel the same way — or is he viewed as a jerk? Steer clear of sketchy people!
Do you have a business mentor? How has the relationship helped you?
