Is it for You?
Would a Dormen Business Mentor be right for for you and your business?
To find out more about what it's like to work with a mentor, please see some of our video case studies and also this guidance document 'Working with a Dormen mentor'.
There are also a number of questions you can ask yourself about your business and issues concerning its development that will help you to decide whether a Dormen business mentor would be the right type of support for you and your business.
Business Needs
Q. Are you are planning or just starting a new business (less than 6 months trading)?
A. Your needs can probably be best met by contacting Business Link (0845 600 9006 www.businesslink.gov.uk) in the first instance. If you are looking for business start-up training, two day courses are available in Dorset provided by WSX Enterprise (01202 607541).
Q. Do you have a problem that needs advice or information, including specialist help or an area of regulation or contact details for organisations?
A. The best solution is an organisation providing advice, such as Business Link. They provide information and advice, will diagnose the issues impacting on your business, and suggest solutions.
Q. Do you have a problem that needs urgent support?
A. Mentoring is rarely appropriate in such cases as it is a medium to long term exercise, not a quick fix. Again the best option is probably to contact Business Link.
Q. Are you struggling with questions over the direction and future of your business and could do with a high quality sounding board?
A. Mentoring might be the solution for you.
Q. Are you facing difficult decisions in connection with your business and could do with someone knowledgeable and experienced to talk them through with?
A. Mentoring could be the solution for you.
Your Needs
Q. Would you be happy to work closely with another person on the detail of your business?
A. If the answer is yes, then mentoring might be the right support for you and your business needs.
Q. Are you looking for quick solutions?
A. By it's very nature, mentoring tends to be a medium to long term exercise, not a quick fix. You would probably be better off with a paid consultant.
Q. Are you prepared to make the time for meetings with a mentor?
A. Typically, most clients and mentors meet for about one and a half to two hours every four weeks – perhaps even more frequently to start with, depending on the needs of your business. If you cannot commit the time to this, probably best not to start in the first place.
Q. Can you cope with things you may not want to hear? Because they are impartial, mentors may help you to discover things about your business that are unexpected or challenging e.g. perhaps your favourite product or service is not profitable?
A. Although a mentor would help you prepare a plan to address such issues, if you would rather not discover them in the first place then probably mentoring is not right for you.
Q. Are you capable of forming an action plan with someone and sticking to your side of it?
A. If the answer is yes, then mentoring might be for you.
If you have further questions, please contact us via www.dormen.org.uk/contact-us/.
Next: Request a Mentor
