Article Contributed by By Ian Cowley, Managing Director, cartridgesave.co.uk
Running your own business can feel like it’s you against the world. Especially in the early days.
However, no one has to fly solo. Help is out there and it’s just a matter of knowing where to find it.
Cultivated properly and nurtured frequently, business mentors and friends can turn into some of the biggest assets you have, outside of your own staff. Their guidance, ideas and counsel can help your business grow and turn you into a better leader.
Here are some tips that have worked for me:
Get out there
No matter your location or your industry, people like you will already be meeting up regularly to share experiences and ideas.
Networking does not come naturally to everyone. However, even if you are as naturally shy as I, you must put aside any fears and embarrassments to capitalise on the opportunity.
Find a local networking meet-up that looks relevant and go. Introduce yourself to everyone you can, chat and see if you have common ground with them.
You may not find your mentor at the first time of trying, but this is a long game. So keep going and making new contacts until you get that ‘click’ that you know is going to benefit your business in a meaningful way.
Cultivating a mentor
If you have an idea that someone you’ve met might prove useful due to their experience suggest you meet for coffee or lunch and introduce some questions that you’d like answers to in this casual environment.
Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help. Chances are, the person you’re talking to has been in exactly the same position themselves and will be only too keen to help.
After repeating this informal meet-up a few times, you may find that you have a fully functioning business mentor without even asking for one!
Make it easy
If you have questions you’d like answered by your business mentor, don’t wait for a right moment to ask them. Just do it. If you think they can help you in a specific way, request their assistance. This might be an introduction to a supplier, for social media support or assistance with a roadblock you just can’t see a way past.
Whatever the question, don’t be impeded by politeness.
The point is, you make it as easy as possible for your mentor to help you by being as open as you can with them and using their experience and insight to the full.
Give and take
Some people you befriend in business won’t scratch your back without theirs being scratched too. You may need to decide to what level you want to invest in a relationship that is turning transactional.
The best and most productive friendships do have an element of give and take about them and it’s healthy that you will offer insight, tips and supplier information to those who give it to you.
It’s an unwritten rule of business that people look out for one another. Once you start networking, you will find there is a real sense of community. To be a fully functioning member of the community, it’s good to give back as well as take. Once you are established, this could take the form of you mentoring someone who is just starting out. Use your judgement to ensure that the balance is right and the benefits are always there for your business.