A recent survey of some of our most successful members showed that Mentoring is a skill that successful women business-owners believe will make them better leaders. Despite their success in business these women proclaimed that what would make them even BETTER is acquiring skills as a mentor.
The Role of the Mentor
At the HerBusiness here is how we’ve defined the role of a mentor:
- Provides advice and perspective to the mentoree
- Provides feedback on ideas and plans, often before they are considered for further development
- Shares wisdom and advice from your experience, while allowing the mentoree to have their own experience
- Encourages and support mentorees to complete the program and its activities
- Holds the mentoree accountable for achieving the goals that they set for the program
- Creates opportunities that may not otherwise be available to the mentoree eg. increased visibility, access to networks
- Supports the needs and aspirations of the mentoree
- Encourages collaboration between mentorees
- Attends required meetings and meet commitments made to mentorees
- Understands the skills that the mentoree is required to learn during the program and offer support in learning these skills
- Offers suggestions to improve mentoree’s skills, talents, abilities, initiative, and commitment in preparation for future endeavours
- Offers challenging ideas that will inspire the mentorees
- Helps build self-confidence through praise, encouragement, and constructive feedback
- Suggests an ‘alternate’ Mentor(s) for areas where the Mentor is unable to add value or expertise
- Is not afraid to say “I do not know”
The Mentor’s role in the MentorNet women’s mentoring program is an important one. Mentors (both men and women) guide and act as a sounding board for a ‘pod’ of up to four Mentorees. Over six months they will help them develop their business plans, improve their networks and their business skills.
Here are some of the ways that being a Mentor can help your business experience:
- Opportunities to test new ideas,
- Renewed enthusiasm for your own business,
- Challenging discussions with people who have fresh perspectives,
- Satisfaction from contributing to the Mentoree’s development,
- Opportunities to reflect upon and articulate your experience, and
- Improved ability to share experience and knowledge.
If you believe that your skills and experience could make a real difference to our Mentorees (all of whom are looking to grow their businesses) then please apply to be a mentor on the next MentorNet program. Email us or call us on 1300 720 120, or just complete the application form on this site.
