Everyone needs to seek advice sometimes – whether in their personal or business lives. In a professional setting, you will be mentored; you will source inspiration and you will have heroes. No business can grow without having some model for success. Often that model is someone the owner or manager can look up to and turn to for guidance. Whether dealing with the complexities of property management or professional and personal development, it’s important for you to have the right mentor in place. Here are some questions to ask before signing up with a new mentor.
- What experience does the mentor have?
It’s important to know what experience the mentor has. Ask them who they have worked with before and check references if you can. If you are hiring a mentor, consider whether they work for a reputable company.
- Which areas and goals can the mentor best support?
Consider your goals. Are you trying to grow or expand your company? Change your career path? Improve the position of your business? Find a mentor that has expertise and experience supporting those goals.
- Who is right for you?
There is no right or wrong answer to this. When looking for a mentor, ask for recommendations from others. However, remember that what worked well for one company may not work as well for you – and vice versa. You must have a good rapport with the mentor and your relationship should be based on mutual respect. Knowledge of your industry is, of course, essential and something that can often be overlooked. Make sure you can work together and have the same goals in mind.
Karl Young, Search Laboratory, Leeds, United Kingdom, www.searchlaboratory.com
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