Encourage the entrepreneur's responsibility and commitment to fulfil his action plan. Sustainability of actions.

Occasionally, we encounter situations that lead us to ask ourselves some questions about how to enhance the sustainability of the entrepreneur's action:

• Why do entrepreneurs leave the session excited, but then fail to follow through with their action plan?
• Does mentoring really work?
• On what does it depend for our entrepreneurs to achieve real transformation, real change?

We often say that no action, no mentoring. However, In action, our limited condition and vulnerability is most evident.

That is why, necessary, normalise the difficulty in implementing the action plan and as part of the change process.

The entrepreneur is not lazy, he does not lack discipline, he is human. He needs to go through this process.

The attitudes that need to be present more than ever in the mentor are the following: 

• Do not judge.
• Respect.
• Amazement.
• Curiosity.
• Search.
• Full presence.
• Empathy.

The entrepreneur does his part and the process continues between sessions. We can rely on the structure of the process and the session to accompany and follow up the action plans.

Follow-up and PROGRESS of the entrepreneur's action plan in mentoring:

Once an "Action Plan" has been agreed between the mentor and his or her entrepreneur, it is important to follow up on the commitments of the ".Action Plan" agreed both at that session and at previous sessions.

It is important to help the entrepreneur to implement the new habits and behaviours.

Accompanying our entrepreneurs in their progress, encouraging them and supporting them in difficult times always empowering their autonomy, without us taking the reins of the process but by letting them take on that role.

Setting the entrepreneur's Action Plan in a mentoring session:

As we already know, the true measure of intelligence is in ACTION. Without action we cannot achieve results.  

Why is it important to have an Action Plan after each mentoring session?

Because an action plan is associated with the achievement of a result and that triggers the next sequence: 

Results - Feedback - Learning - Improvement - Objectives.

Because it will be what links the entrepreneur to his own improvement process. Because it will also will serve the function of linking one session to another., by starting each session with a review of the action plan from the previous session. 

An action plan should be detailed and very specific; as well as address obstacles that may arise and jeopardise the implementation of the action plan. 

In the same way, resources that can be used by the entrepreneur to cope with and overcome obstacles should be sought. (external or internal) that arise.  

The Action Plan must be particularly detailed in terms of:  

• The area of improvement that it will contribute to "develop", i.e: what is the action plan intended to improve?
• Logistics: the day, time, duration, place, company (if any), etc... in which it will take place.
• The possible obstacles to compliance and remedies The entrepreneur has at his or her disposal so that, in the event that they appear, he or she can "overcome" them.

Measurable: How will you know that it has been achieved, i.e. how will you know that you have actually realised your action plan?

Beware of the famous "think I'm not lazy"!

The action plan:  

• It must be oriented towards the objective of the mentoring session, and process.
• It must be challenging and motivating for the entrepreneur.
• It has to record in writing.
• It must have a commitment by the entrepreneur that he is going to do it. 

Doesn't that ring a bell? Sure, it's as well as the target. It is very important that the Action Plan is recorded in writing, otherwise... "Where I SAID I SAY, I SAY I SAY".  

And, remember that, the commitment is made with respect to the fulfilment of the "Action Plan" and not with respect to results expected from the Action Plan.

Now that you are clear on how to set up an action plan in the mentoring process, reflect:

Develop a simple action plan for a goal you want to achieve.

After the question and before think of yourself.

You can also consult other Related TIPs.

Learn more about mentoring by downloading this free EBOOK.  

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