Tweet

Business Mentoring Programs

Guest post by: Eric Douglas

Article Overview: A mentor is similar to a coach, but not the same. A mentor also offers counsel, but of a different type.

Business Mentoring Programs

A mentor is similar to a coach, but not the same. A mentor also offers counsel, but of a different type. Where a coach focuses on building your skills and competencies, a mentor will help you get the lay of the land, understand how things work, and provide advice. Put in concrete terms, if you want to decipher office politics, you would talk to your mentor. If you want to know how to communicate more effectively, you would talk to your coach. A mentor comes from either inside or outside the organization and is someone you can turn to for advice and guidance - perhaps steer you toward the right business connections or the best professional development course. A mentor is someone who can help you navigate treacherous waters or develop strategically important relationships. The difference between coaching and mentoring is that a coach is trained to help you change your underlying patterns of behavior. A mentor accelerates your learning about how to do your job more effectively. A coach doesn't need to understand your business; a mentor does.

Many organizations have mentoring programs. At the Tribune Company, for example, every manager is required to find a mentor. Even the CEO has a mentor. Lockheed Martin's mentoring program has only two rules. A boss can't mentor a subordinate and there's a "no fault" divorce provision: The relationship can be terminated at any time, for any reason, by either party.

Having a mentor is important. Being a mentor is also important; it can pay big dividends in your personal and professional growth. By becoming someone's trusted adviser, you can learn how to communicate more effectively and build strong professional relationships. Some of my longest lasting relationships are with people whom I've mentored or who have mentored me. Being a mentor is also a piece of firm ground where you can hone your mind and spirit as you embark on the more difficult climb of effecting your own personal change.

Related Articles
  Mentoring in the Workplace
  Transitioning New Employees Into the Workplace with Employee Mentoring Programs
  Who SHOULD be mentored?
  A Better Way to Implement Mentoring Programs
  Difference Between Mentoring and Coaching
  How to Leverage the Strengths of Four Generations Through Mentoring
  How a Corporate Mentoring Program Prepares Employees for Success
  Characteristics of a Mentor
  Why Mentor?
  Mentoring - It’s All Greek to Me!
  How to Create a Strong Leadership Succession Plan With Mentoring
  Avoiding Pitfalls in Mentoring Relationships, Part II of III
  Mentoring: A Key Strategy for Professional and Organizational Success
  Coach or Mentors Team Members for Success
  Crossing Boundaries With Mentoring
  “Business Mentoring – Add It To Business Coaching For A Powerful Combination”
  Does Professional Mentoring Guarantee Your Online Business Success?
  Does Professional Mentoring Guarantee Internet Business Success?
  Winning Opportunities For Everyone Through Mentoring
  Mentoring, An Essential Part Of Forex Success

Article Tags: business mentoring, coach, mentor



Related Forum Posts
My entry - 1. The Best Business Books Ever: The 100 Most Influential Business Books You'll Never Have Time to Read - this is a fascinating book about the history of Business theory, and I'd recommend it to anybody. 2. The Big Book of Small Business: You Don't Have to Run Your Business by the Seat of Your Pants, by Tom Gegax. Ditto. 3. PADI: The Business of Diving Book Okay, so this book won't be of use to anyone who doesn't want to start a scuba store, but I did, and this book was of course invaluable to me in reaching that goal.
Re: Essential Leadership skills - Vision Values Mission Strategic Thinking Decision Making Communication Team Bonding People Development Coaching / Mentoring / Guiding / Grooming Presentation Thanks Robert
Any experience with McManus UK Ltd.? - Did anybody already deal with any of the McManus UK Ltd offshore entities? I do have a program, but not enough cash. I have been advised that they can fund investors with access to Private Placement Programs but they don’t want to joint venture with me. They want a fee for the service. This is why I want to find out if anybody has had first hand experience with this group? Patrick Ohara, Financial Consultant
Business Women Peer Mentoring Spotlight - Hi Ladies, I had an idea on how we could really offer some support to one another here on the Forum. I thought it might be fun if we invited one of the Ladies here to put her business in the spotlight. Then we could all have an opportunity to do a little Peer Mentoring. After a specific length of time, we could then open it up for the next woman to present her business. What do you think? Do you want to be the woman who gets some free tips first? If so, tell us your situation and we'll get started! I'm looking forward to hearing what you think. Warmly, Tami
Exclusive: Interview with Results - Hi Forum Members, I'm helping start up a Business Coaching and Consulting company here in Toronto, Ontario, Canada (a Subsidiary of RSC Business in Los Angeles). As a Research and Development Intern I am required to practice my listening and interview skills by surveying Small and Medium Businesses on thier Business. This Survey is designed by RSC Business to also assist the Business being interviewed more insight into their own business. I am looking to interview about 30 businesses across North America over the span of 3 months. At the end of these interviews I will be publishing a report of the results and they will be made available for free to the Interviewees. The Report data will include responses from a minimum of 100 interviews. I would like to extend this opportunity to members of the Forum. If you would like to have this short 20-30 minute interview conducted on your Business and you reside in North America please send me an email or PM. Please contact me at andy[at]jvprosperity[dot]com to arrange our interview and to get free access to the results when they are published.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Are You Too Good for Your Job?

What Is The Foundation for Your Vision?

Top 7 Tips to Real Estate Agents’ Success

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.