4 Characteristics to Look for in a Mentor
Everyone has had their own share of mentors throughout their lives; whether it be an older sibling who coached you through teenage anxieties, or a college professor who helped you figure out what you wanted to do after graduation. As we’ve also probably seen through both personal experience and those of our friends, good mentors can make a world of a difference and have a positive impact on our development. However, the opposite can also be true: bad mentors can have disastrous effects on our development. From my own personal experience, I’ve come across both. I’ve formed a close relationship with one of my college professors who has become an influential part of my decision making when it comes to what my plans for the future are; she’s a neutral sounding board who gives me her point of view without pressuring me to agree or change my plans because of her. I’ve also had horrible mentors who are more interested in hearing themselves talk than in helping me. I had a counselor in high school tell me that my college application essay wasn’t at the caliber expected from the schools I was applying to, and that I needed to be more intellectual. Luckily I ignored her and ended up at the school I was aiming for. But how do you know who’s being a good mentor and whose advice you should just ignore? Well it’s not an easy decision, and a good amount comes from a gut feeling that you shouldn’t follow their advice, but at Bridge for Billion’s we’ve created over 128 relationships between entrepreneurs and business mentors by matching them based on common interests, and allowing our entrepreneurs the final say in deciding with whom they want to work. We’ve noticed that there are certain qualities that are common throughout all our successful business mentoring relationships.
Active listener
Being an active listener is something that most people need to work on, and it’s integral to being a good mentor. Active listening is when someone fully focuses on what is being said instead of thinking of what they’re going to say next. We all make this mistake when we’re talking to our friends. We end up missing the end of the sentence because we’re focused on what we want to say in response to the beginning of the sentence. A mentor has to be fully engaged when you’re talking to them so they can both fully understand your needs and your company’s needs. It’s necessary for them to understand and know your business inside and out in order for them to be able to give you good advice about what’s working and what isn’t.
Enthusiastic and Passionate
Even though your mentor has no vested interest in your project (which is a good thing!); they should be just as excited as you are about your business. They should want you to succeed as much as you do. While their lack of vested interest means they’re a neutral sounding board for you to go to when you have to make both trivial and serious decisions, they should still always be in your corner. They’re an important support system for you, and they should always be rooting for your success. They should be excited to work with you. People who aren’t emotionally invested by a project don’t tend to produce their best work. Their enthusiasm for your project is usually a huge motivator for most mentors, especially when they’re volunteers.
Doesn’t coddle
While they need to be enthusiastic about your project, that doesn’t mean that they can’t or shouldn’t criticize your project or your decisions. A good mentor is not there to tell you that you’re doing a great job all the time. They should be able to call you out when they think you’re making a mistake. If they’re always agreeing with you, they may not be doing you any favors. Their passion for your project should make them determined not to let you fail, and they should let you know if they think you’re making a mistake. Mentors offer an outside view, and there’s always things a company can do to improve. Mentors should help you to reach these conclusions, and help you avoid pitfalls, even if that does mean disagreeing sometimes.
Curious and Humble
More than anything else a mentor should be curious and inquisitive. They should want to learn your business inside and out. A good mentor will question every aspect of your business, which is a good thing! This is how you become better at defending your business under pressure. If your mentor pushes back on a certain portion of your business plan, chances are an investor would as well. Going through this process beforehand will help you identify weak points in your idea and improve them, and it will also be a chance to learn how to defend your business when questioned. A good mentor should also be humble! If they’re not an expert on a specific topic, they should be willing to learn. If they’re not sure what the best marketing strategy would be, they should be willing to admit that. Not only will a good mentor admit when they don’t know something; they will also either consult with friends who might be better suited to answer your question or do their own research in order to best advise you on a topic. They’re always willing to learn with you!
Looking for a mentor? Begin structuring and developing your business with the help of a mentor at Bridge for Billions!
