How to Find a Business Mentor

 

 

Finding a business mentor is an important part of growing and succeeding in your chosen career or endeavor. You need help. You need guidance. You need to speak with someone who has more experience than you. How do you find these people? What do you say when you encounter them? Use this article as a guide to locate your next business mentor.

Find common ground. This could be a school connection, hobby, passion, family origin or pet. It is much easier for someone to honor your request to speak with them when they feel like you have something in common with them. The more specific and personal connection the better. Since your mentor is going to be advising you on issues that are both personal and professional it just makes sense that you find sincere common ground that connects you.

Connect with honest intention. Do not be afraid to ask your prospective mentor for what you want. If you have a business and you’d like some feedback, then ask for feedback. If you believe that this prospective mentor can connect you with promotional partners who could help you, then ask for promotional help. If the prospective mentor asks has a network and you would like to be included, ask for an introduction. Whatever your intended goal is, ask in a professional straightforward manner.

Offer value to them. If you expect the prospective mentor to help you then you should be prepared to help them too. For example, you could share information about your common passions and interest. Whatever you have in common, open up a conversation and give them some of your deep insight. As another example, maybe it makes sense to offer a complimentary service. If your expertise can be of specific value to them feel free to offer it up as a way to honestly connect.

Ask for an appropriate next step. The last thing you need to do is to ask for the appropriate next step; whether it’s inviting them to lunch, meeting them at their office, or setting up a phone meeting. There are a number of approaches, just be sure that your approach is easy from them to receive. You don’t want to be a burden on their schedule. You want to make it easy for them to interact with you.

Finding a business mentor can be difficult without an appropriate approach. Use the steps found in this article to make a connection with someone you would like to mentor you.

What is your best method to find a business mentor?