In business, as in life, it always helps to get advice from someone who’s been there before. But while you may have asked a friend to share their wisdom when it comes to parenting or personal finance, it’s less common for entrepreneurs to seek out advice on managing their business.
That’s where a business mentor comes in.
Finding a trusted adviser to share wisdom and experience can help you make better decisions as you navigate the ups and downs of being a small business owner.
Related: 5 Books Every Business Owner Needs to Read
It can be hard to ask for help. But don’t let your pride get in the way of learning from the successes – and mistakes – of others. Remember, even the most accomplished business owners were rookies at some point. Seeking out a mentor for your business can help you overcome challenges before they impact your bottom line.
How can a mentor help? Let’s say you’re dealing with an unproductive employee. It might be tempting to vent your frustration to your staff. But this could cause tension among your workers, making them even less motivated to perform – and costing you more time and money.
Talking to a mentor, one with more experience leading others, can help you channel that frustration by developing a plan to solve the problem.
You’re looking for someone trustworthy, experienced and willing to walk alongside you. But how do you find them?
Here are couple ideas on how you can start making connections:
Related: 7 Steps for Using Social Media to Grow Your Business
Like a small business, building a mentorship takes time and effort. Depending on your mentor and your goals, the relationship could be a short-term or long-term commitment. But before you can truly learn, you have to make sure you respect each other’s time and energy.
Once you’ve found a mentor, follow these tips to build a healthy working relationship:
Building your business is a learning process, so it’s important to have a team that’s invested in your success. We know choosing the right insurance can be complicated – that’s why every ERIE policy comes with a local agent, there to answer any questions and guide you through the process.
Your local ERIE agent is a business owner in your community, just like you. He or she knows what it takes to keep a business running and what you need to protect it, like the risk control services and programs that come with your ERIE business insurance policy.
If it’s been a while, ask your agent to check in for a coverage review. New to ERIE? Contact your local community agent.
Haven’t heard of us? Erie Insurance started with humble beginnings in 1925 with a mission to emphasize customer service above all else. Though we’ve grown to reach the Fortune 500 list, we still haven’t lost the human touch.
Contact NorthGroup Insurance today to experience the ERIE difference for yourself.