I have never tried to understand why I mentor social entrepreneurs. I have always done it, and it's likely I will continue doing it. I am now one of the UnLtd Connect mentors.
I've worked in big business at a senior level and promoted CSR at a time when it was not 'fashionable' and considered an unnecessary cost burden. When I had the opportunity to start my own businesses, build them up before selling, they were all run along very strong ethical lines and that made them very attractive 'brands' for potential buyers.
As a child growing up in the 60s in Ireland was tough, but raising a family of four or being a widow or widower on a meagre pension was tougher. Sharing was the norm, we were all struggling. Everything was shared, elation, sadness, worry, opportunities and of course food. Sharing became part of our culture, our DNA.
My experience has taught me that mentees come to you with high levels of anxiety and often see you as their saviour because they believe that you have the answer to their perceived problem.
When expectations are high, the expected results need to match these. In situations where I am attempting to explain a process, I follow these simple steps:
Listen to them
They want to talk and get things out, so let them. Listen, but in an active way and take extensive notes of what they have to say and what meaning they are trying to convey. These can be very important later as their review can often reveal crucial insights.
Understand their issues and concerns
Mentees continually tell me that previous mentors just didn't get them, didn't understand their issues and what concerned them. So, if they have no sales coming in, they don't need a very nice P&L and cash flow analysis but a solution to increase sales.
Speak about similar experiences
They need to hear that what's bothering them is not unique. It's not the first time that this has happened and it won't be the last! That these are common problems and many businesses go through similar experiences. A good approach here I find is to share stories from my business life that matches or are similar to theirs along with how the issue was overcome and resolved. It calms things and gives them a vision that they too can resolve things successfully.
It's a journey never a destination!
There are no shortcuts or magic bullets in business, just hard work. It's essential that there is not an unreasonable expectation by the mentee that you will take them to their dream world in an instant! It takes time, patience, work, disappointment, more work, some more disappointment and then more hard work and so on.
They have the answers
Very often the answer to the question will be provided by the entrepreneur as they know their business, what they can and can't do and indeed what they want to do. They know the players and the plot better than the mentor. It's a guiding process that exposes the answer to them from within.
Focus on the enterprise not the social issues
We are the business experts and have spent many years gaining and honing that expertise. Social entrepreneurs have spent many years discovering the social issues and honing their expertise. They cannot afford to educate us in these social issues in the valuable time available for mentoring. We are there to help them. They need the business input, the business help and the business focus. When it's all done and dusted and the business is back on course, go to the pub, have a drink or two and discuss at length and solve the social injustices of the world!
Prepare them to hear things that they won't like
They will have to hear the bad news too, so say what needs to be said early on, it gets them focused on the critical things and what needs to be done. It also earns respect as very often the social entrepreneur knows the reality and what direction things may need to go. It may not be the most palatable thing to do but it's always best to do the right thing. Be honest with them, business is not easy.
They need to know what they are doing well
Reinforce and recognise those things they are doing that are working well for the business. It boosts the confidence of the social entrepreneurs in their management skills. Indeed very often it's easier and gives greater returns to improve on current best practices within the business than to try to overcome weak areas that require a disproportionate input of valuable resources.
You are there for them
There is the agreed structured time between the mentor/mentee but often questions arise outside of this and these can be critical in the decision making process. It may not be possible to wait for the next meeting. I have found there is greater success when I am committed 'full-time' to the task.
Follow up, follow up, follow up!
The enthusiasm generated with the meeting cools off gradually. An unexpected phone call to see how things are going can help realign direction and boost confidence. It's nice to show you care and also keeps people on their toes!
Joseph Browne is a serial entrepreneur, business consultant and teacher and mentors a number of social entrepreneurs both independently and through the UnLtd Connect programme. If you think you or your organisation would be interested in joining UnLtd Connect, then click here
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