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What to expect from your mentor

A business mentor normally has extensive business experience or is knowledgeable in a particular business area, such as finance or marketing.

A mentor will act as a trusted confidant to their mentee over a flexible period of time. If you are thinking of finding a business mentor, you should be clear on what you can and cannot expect from them.

Your mentor will:

  • offer an outside perspective on both you and your business
  • listen, confidentially, to the things that are worrying you about your business
  • help you by sharing their own experience of both failure and success
  • give friendly, unbiased support
  • provide honest and constructive feedback
  • be a sounding board for ideas
  • help you with your decision making by suggesting alternatives based on personal experience
  • provide contacts and networks to further your personal and business development
  • provide ongoing support and encouragement

Your mentor will not:

  • provide a counselling service
  • give specific technical business advice, which would normally be provided by an expert business adviser
  • provide a training service
  • provide a coaching service (relating to specific business related tasks, goals and objectives)
  • take responsibility for the success of your business away from you, the business owner