A mentor should be an integral part of your support team if you are a small business owner or starting a small business. But, choosing the right mentor for your business can be a daunting task. Mentors are essential during the early years of a company as the first few years are often the most challenging.

Mentored businesses are more likely to be successful and survive the critical start-up phases. There is some confusion about what mentoring is as not every leader is a mentor, and not every mentor is required to be in a leadership position but could have essential experience in their field.

In essence, mentors can provide:

• Expanded Network

• Motivation and Support

• Expertise and Experience

• Increased Business Acumen
  

5 Steps For Finding The Right Mentor For Your Business

Here are the top five steps that you can take to find the right mentor for your business:

1. You should evaluate your needs 

Set aside some time to think about what you and your business needs from a mentor. Like, what kind of guidance do you need to be successful in your industry? And, which type of personality suits your style? Thinking about these and other questions is the critical first step on your path to getting the right mentor for your business.

2. Determine the qualities you want in the mentor

Think about what you need in a mentor and the qualities that make a good mentor. In general, everyone should have:

• Willingness to be a mentor

• Genuine concern about the progress

• Track record of company success in a relevant industry

Find someone who could add value to your business rather than the most impressive name, as you can get more long-term value from a relationship with someone who understands your challenges.

3. Contact Business Support Organizations

Several organizations focus on providing mentors and support for businesses, which includes:

• SCORE

• Veteran Business Outreach Center (VBOC)

• America's Small Business Development Center

• Association of Women's Business Center (AWBC)



• Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center

You can also contact your industry trade association to find if it has any recommendations for potential mentors.

4. Reach out to your community

Your network of family, colleagues, and friends is full of helpful advocates and potential mentors. Make sure you are building real relationships with other businesses in your area as well.

5. You should be a good mentee

An integral part of a relationship with mentors is to be the best mentee that you can be. Remember, it is all about building a long-term relationship with someone. After you have found a potential mentor, think carefully about how you will build a relationship.

You need to consider your mentor's time and find ways to show gratitude and bring value to the relationship. When asking an entrepreneur for time, remember that it could be limited. Go to meetings prepared and get your elevator pitch down to two minutes or less. If someone agreed to meet you for 30 minutes, don't keep them for 45.

Takeaway

Mentorship is one of the best investments that you can make in a business. It's also something that you can pay forward someday and help other entrepreneurs succeed. Finding the right mentor for your business can ultimately change your career.

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