Mentors Usher Small Business Owners to Success

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As a small business owner, wouldn’t it be nice to know someone who has been through it all before? Wouldn’t it be great to be able to call up someone on the phone or meet over coffee and come away with the perfect solution to your knotty client question or vexing PR problem? Sometimes, in times where cash flow in your small business is tight or you have just made a mistake that could cost you it client, it would be comforting to talk to someone who has been there and see that. Luckily, you have that option – with a mentor.

The ideal mentor is someone who has achieved success in your industry and is now ready to give back and help other people who are just starting out. Some mentors are retired, while others still work in the industry.

There are several organizations, such as SCORE, the small business counseling agency, that help small business owners find a mentor. Or, small business owners can recruit a mentor of their own by simply asking someone from their industry that they trust and respect to fill the role. If you do not have a mentor in mind, check out these resources first in your search for one:

SCORE – SCORE bills itself as “counselors to America’s small business” and they do just that by allowing you to search their database for online or in-person mentors.

U.S. Small Business Administration – This invaluable government resource for small business owners lists small business training centers and networking events in your area. Both can be a great place to find a mentor.

Professional Associations – Many successful professionals use their professional association membership as a chance to give back to the up and comers in the business. Get to know some of the top dogs and then take that step and ask.

College Alumni Associations—Potential mentors congregate in college alumni associations, too. Many schools even have a mentoring program set up. Check with your alma mater’s career center for more information.

Finding a mentor is simply the first step. To make the most of a mentor, you must lay some ground rules to ensure that you both respect each other’s time and position. At your first meeting with a new mentor, it is important to cover several basics, such as:

Boundaries –The mentor and the mentee should both set boundaries up front when it comes to aspects of business you will work together on, information that is to remain strictly confidential, and any off-limits topics. Getting this out of the way early can significantly decrease the chance for misunderstandings and hurt feelings – or even bad business decisions – later on.

Openness – While boundaries are important, if the mentor and mentee are not open with one another, they run the risk of accomplishing very little together. You may be tempted to hide an embarrassing business problem, but remember that your mentor has likely seen that problem and many more like it and will have some good advice.

Communication – How will you communicate? Perhaps your mentor works at a busy office and can’t answer the phone from 9-5, or perhaps you dedicate a certain day of the week to family. Go over communication times so there will be no misunderstandings.