“Yes I have one already” – then great! Hopefully it’s working well for you!
“No I don’t have one or know how it would benefit me” – then
read on!
This has nothing to do with normal conceptions of business, yet everything to do with business!
Therapy in the traditional sense – being able to open up to someone completely disconnected to you – may sound counter-intuitive at first, but it has a number of advantages in business today.
Forget about using the non-execs on the board or industry advisors, this is about you as an individual first and foremost.
And the value-add to the business is a by-product of the personal mentorship.
What’s more, it works for the CEO just as much as the admin staff, and for start-ups just as much as established companies.
Firstly, let’s look at the mentee-mentor relationship.
Have you ever felt better after opening up to someone about how you’re feeling? A friend, family member, a colleague, your doctor… even a total stranger!?
Offloading what’s on your mind, no matter how trivial you may find the concern or worry, is proven to alleviate stress instantly.
Brilliant!
But what’s that got to do with business?
Well, offloading your personal and/or business concerns to your mentor is only the first step.
Your mentor will listen intently and then provide the appropriate response and feedback depending on the issue present.
Some mentees will want a sympathetic ear; some will want to be provided with the view of the other side in a challenging manner; some will look for tools on what to do next to solve any problems; and some will want a combination of all three and more.
Remember, you’ll have selected your mentor to feel comfortable working together, maybe after a trial session or two, and agreeing on what type of assistance you want them to provide going forward.
You’ll have agreed to conduct the sessions in person, on the phone or via skype, or a mixture, and for a decent length of time.
The second step is a direct result of the empowering effect that an independent set of ears and fresh eyes can have on what you do going forward.
The mentor will effectively act as a soundboard: providing feedback, working through the good and bad steps taken, problem solving with you, and finally signposting you to the next steps that need to be taken.
You should feel clear headed at this point – with a great weight lifted from what’s been consuming your mind, and a direction to head in with tools at your disposal.
Thirdly, if you want to develop on a more advanced level, the mentee may benefit from being set goals by the mentor, both personal and professional. Nothing that would drastically affect the person or business, but perhaps some suggestions to try, tweaks in how to deal with particular issues, or maybe some structure to adopt.
Remember, there is no right or wrong way to frame a mentor/mentee relationship – how often the meetings are, how long they run, how they’re conducted etc – it is all about what works for the mentee.
But commitment is the only way it will have a chance to work.
As you learn to utilise the outlet of a mentor at your work, you will develop personally and professionally; becoming burden-free and
capably equipped to move forward with renewed drive which will translate into increased productivity and the crucial work/life balance you deserve.
Look deeper, see further.
We’ve seen the power a business mentor can have on individuals, because we have one as well as providing that service! Through
a range of roles, Allan Panthera has the proven experience and emotional intelligence to meet your mentoring needs. If you have any more questions about how business therapy can transform you personally and professionally, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.