Segun Ogundeinde, 27, used to work with a leading laundry company in Lagos as a customer service officer. He did very well and was always receiving accolades from his employer. However, after some time, he thought he had mastered the nitty-gritty of the business and decided to set up his own laundry outfit. One of his strength was that he knew a number of his employers customers, who would switch loyalty to his own business after starting up, but this could not help him, as he couldnt sustain the business for a long time. He subsequently came back to where he started from in no time.The President, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Lagos chapter, Mr. Jide Ologun, ascribes Ogundeindes failure, not only to the Nigerian factor but also to lack of mentoring from established or more knowledgeable entrepreneurs.According to him, mentoring is most often defined as a professional relationship in which an experienced person (the mentor) assists another (the mentee) in developing specific skills and knowledge that will enhance the less-experienced persons professional and personal growth.But in SME discourse, Ologun says small business owners, in their growth stage, may need an extra boost or a mentor who acts as an adviser to help their businesses grow.The NIPR boss, who describes how enterprise mentoring works, says a mentor is an experienced business owner who can help guide another business owner on his growth pathway.Though he says business mentoring does not really involve business coaching or consulting, he explains that it rather provides someone, who can help the SME owner or budding entrepreneur focus on the big picture issues that face their business.Ologun explains further that mentoring programmes match emerging entrepreneurs with experienced mentors who can help the former develop a better understanding of their businesses and industry; become better leaders; and make better decisions on the critical issues facing their businesses.In view of this, he enjoins all SME owners and budding entrepreneurs to embrace business mentoring cautioning that such programmes are usually voluntary even as the beneficiaries do not have to pay for them.The Chief Executive Officer, Adora Consulting, Mr. Jare Ajiboye, who agrees with Ologun that mentoring is critical to building businesses, says successful small business owners are often the ones who have learned from those who have gone before them.He, however, laments that most entrepreneurs dont have a source of advice to cross-fertilise ideas, while others do not see the need for it.Ajiboye advises all entrepreneurs to seek the help of more experienced business owners to grow their enterprises.Speaking on the benefits of business mentoring, Ajiboye says mentees gain from the mentors expertise; learn specific skills and knowledge that are relevant to personal/business goals; and develop a sharper focus on what is needed to grow their businesses.He adds that mentees also receive critical feedback in key areas, such as communications, interpersonal relationships, technical abilities, change management and leadership skills. These, according to him, will rub off on mentees businesses.Ajiboye says entrepreneurs must choose mentors that best fit their business goals and give them helpful answers to their business questions.Look for someone who has accomplished goals that might be similar to your own. Your mentor should be someone who can provide the time and energy to help you achieve your objectives, he says.According to him, the first step in choosing the right mentor in business is for entrepreneurs to establish the goals they expect to achieve by talking to a mentor.Pick the top three to five challenges or opportunities that your business faces. Prioritise them in order from the greatest to least impact on your business success, he says.He says, It is not always easy to find time to meet with a mentor while running your own business. In order to get help, though, you will need to commit some of your time and energy to meeting with your mentor. Youll be glad you did and feel energised after you meet with him or her.Experts say entrepreneurs in every stage of business development manage multiple tasks and issues to move their business forward. They are also quick to implore entrepreneurs to seek guidance from multiple sources if need be.By and large, Ologun and Ajiboye are of the opinion that the Internet is a great tool in business mentoring, adding that the mentee can connect with the mentor via the Internet as often as required.
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