If you're running your own business and you need inspiration, look no further than getting a mentor.
The Australian Businesswomen's Network's MentorNet program is a six-month mentoring and training program that takes women business-owners through a series of skills-building workshops and collaborative learning alongside mentoring sessions with experienced business owners. Over 120 women have already taken the MentorNet journey in the last 12 months.
The results - inspiration, business growth, peer support plus:
- Increase in turnover and business growth
- New business skills in key areas to business success
- Employing staff and growing a team
- Defining the direction of their business through a
business plan
- Expanded networks and much more
But how do you know if it's mentoring or coaching that you need?
Here are what a few of mentorees have said:
It’s challenging me to spend time on really thinking about my vision
Through the MentorNet experience, I have learned the difference between simply being “self-employed” and actually owning/running a business. Through practical business skills, step-by-step business planning, a network of like-minded peers, and inspiring mentor sessions, MentorNet has provided me with the ammunition to kick my business up to the next level at which I am running it, rather than having the business running me!
Dana Strong, Strong Media
I’m having to look objectively at the business
I’ve been so pleased to be involved with the MentorNet program. I have found that I’m thinking more critically about the business and assessing everything from a more objective perspective. I’m also gaining a better appreciation of the work I have done and am doing - it’s a good pat on the back. The biggest gain has been in my confidence as a business woman - I feel I can say that I am a business woman and mean it!
Then.. a few months later:
Being involved in the MentorNet program has been a journey of self and business discovery. I’ve learnt a lot about myself, my approach to business and equally importantly gained additional business skills and confidence. Working with the other participants has been a fabulous experience - gaining inspiration, insights, ideas and further understanding about business.
Kerrie Ann Shepherd - Kassan Events
The inspiration I have gained is impossible for me to grasp
I always read comments from courses like these and sub-consciously think “yeah your inspired for the first 5 minutes and then it’s back to square 1″ OMG - how wrong could I have been!!! The focus, inspiration and direction I have gained from being a part of the MentorNet program are impossible for me to grasp at this point - but it’s BIG!
Louise Jordan - Little Devils Recreation
Mentoring Vs Coaching — A mentor's perspective
The terms coaching and mentoring are often used inter-changeably. They are however quite different.
Here's what one of our serial mentors (he's mentored many times) said about the issue:
The best distinction is that ‘a mentor is someone you learn from, whereas a coach is someone you learn with’. A mentor implies that they have been there, done that in a similar or related field and has a pool of knowledge and experience to draw from and share. A coach doesn’t need to have that same knowledge or experience. He/she just needs to know how to ask the right questions of you to facilitate your self-discovery. Whereas coaching is entirely about the learner, mentoring involves more sharing from the mentor’s experience.
If I was advising a small business owner starting out to choose between a coach or a mentor, I’d suggest choose a mentor. When you’re entering the world of the unknown (business) there’s a lot to learn and much of that relates to common mistakes in business that a seasoned mentor can point out very quickly. Sure you can learn by making mistakes and growing from them but if there was a faster path, why wouldn’t you choose it?
Dennis Roberts
www.thecoachingprofessionals.com.au
The next Mentornet program begins in early October. Download an application to be a mentor or mentoree today or visit hermentor.com.au for more information.
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