5 reasons to work with a business mentor

Working with a business mentor should help you feel supported, challenged, and inspired. What’s more, our research shows that 38 per cent of female small business owners would find working with a mentor helpful.

Here are just some of the benefits of working with a business mentor in the UK.

1. Identify your skills

You probably have a good idea of your strengths and weaknesses (if not, have a go at doing a SWOT analysis). Working with a business mentor can take this a step further by helping you hone in on specific skills that’ll transform your business. For example if you struggle with late invoice payments, a mentor may be able to offer advice for managing difficult clients or help to boost your confidence.

2. Get motivated

Being self-employed can be lonely, particularly if you’re a sole trader. A business mentor can help you stay motivated and focused. They’ll help by holding you accountable to things you say you’re going to do and celebrating your successes as you grow.

3. Make better decisions

If it’s just you and your business, making decisions can be challenging. Maybe you’re running a side business and can’t decide if it’s the right time to take the leap and run your business full time. It’s easy to overthink even the smallest decisions sometimes. A mentor is someone who can offer a listening ear and help you explore your options.

4. Discuss your ideas

A good mentor is someone you can bounce ideas off about your business. Maybe you’re thinking of developing a new product or service and you don’t know where to start. Or perhaps you want to try a different marketing approach. Working with a mentor who’s on a similar journey to you (just a few steps ahead) can be helpful as they can share their successes and setbacks.

5. Grow your network

A business mentor can also help by introducing you to people in their network who might relate to a specific challenge you’re having. Knowing where to go and who to speak to about business challenges can help build your confidence, knowledge, and community.