A business mentor can play a significant role in your company’s health, longevity, and success. However, for a variety of reasons owners do not include a mentor as part of their corporate strategy.
Here’s four excuses business owners use to avoid hiring a business mentor:
I’m too Busy
If you’re so busy you can’t engage the services of a business mentor, you probably need one more than you know. A business mentor doesn’t have to take a lot of your time. I’ve consulted with a client a couple of times of month and witnessed meaningful results. Carving out two or three hours every few weeks with a mentor is an effective way to ensure the well-being of your business.
I’m Admitting Failure
Using the services of a business mentor is no more an admission of failure than engaging a lawyer to look after your legal affairs. A business mentor can provide the expertise to help you identify the unnoticed issues within your company. You know the old saying, “you can’t see the forest for the trees,” by using a mentor you invite another fresh set of eyes into your business story to help guide you.
They Won’t Understand my Business
A mentor typically has experience in various facets and sectors of business. Chances are that the issues you are wrestling with are well known to a business mentor. Mentors don’t need to know all the ins and outs of your company. Their primary roles are to provide guidance, motivation, leadership support, and help you create solutions for the situations you encounter. As a mentor becomes more familiar with your operations they can provide more insightful and precise support.
I’ll Get too Dependent on my Mentor
Owners often feel they will lose control of their company if they use a business mentor. They may even be concerned of developing a dependence on a mentor. To clarify, business mentoring is not the same thing as managing someone’s business. Unlike a manager, a business mentor wants to create a relationship with an owner that is rooted in independence. A business mentor wants, and needs to maintain objectivity for the relationship to be worthwhile. As a business mentor I’m not interested in controlling your company and making all the decisions. Instead, I’m looking to establish a long term relationship with the owner where I can help them successfully navigate each challenge.
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