How do you know you are doing well in your role? How do you know you are leading and managing your business in the best possible way to achieve your goals? Who do you turn to when you are having trouble making a decision or don’t know how to solve a problem?

If major problems arise in your business that you cannot address on your own, or you wish to take your business in a new direction and need a hand then consider seeking out the management expertise of business consultant. But what about the day-to-day issues of leading and managing, who do you turn to?

For many managers, and especially the business owners, the answer is normally no one. You forge ahead doing the best you can with the information, experience and know how you have. Again, we go back to those questions above. How do you know you’ve made the right decision for the best result?

Investing in the development of your employees and yourself is beneficial for both the individual and the organisation. One of the simplest methods to provide employee development is through the concept of mentoring. Mentoring can be both formal and informal and is often a learning exercise for both the mentor and mentee.

Investing in the development of your employees and yourself is beneficial for both the individual and the organisation.

Could mentoring have a place in the human resource management of your business?

The process of mentoring usually involves a more experienced person discussing issues and circumstances with a less experienced person to help them find techniques and practices to address their problems and opportunities. The caveat is that the mentor does not ‘tell’ the mentee what they should do. Instead, the mentor asks the mentee the right questions to enable them to find the answers or remedies themselves to successfully address the problems they may be facing, thus increasing knowledge and confidence.

In essence, a successful mentoring relationship is based upon trust and the understanding that the mentor will support the mentee whilst also challenging the mentee to learn and grow. The mentor shares with the mentee their experiences and know how for the purpose of this growth.

Now, if you don’t have a mentor, is it time for you to find one?