BEING A GOOD ADVISOR

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A good mentor is a good counsellor!!!

In the mentoring programme for entrepreneurs (+) mentorDay, mentoring is helping someone to see the same situation from other points of view, to consider all possible options and to help them decide for themselves what is the best possible alternative.

One piece of advice, according to the Royal Spanish Academy from the language, is: "to seem or opinion that is given or taken to do or not to do something". Interestingly, nowadays, giving advice can be interpreted as negative. If in a conversation someone says: "I'm going to give you a piece of advice". this can be taken as an inference. Unexpected advice is generally unwanted. The question: "May I give you some advice" can be interpreted as a real threat to individual integrity. 

There is a saying "advice I have that I don't want for myself".

Giving advice is an important part of the mentoring programme. The key is how and when to give them. Counselling is not bad in itself, what makes it bad is the unresponsiveness of the counselee. Helping someone to see the same situation implies that the mentor has to do a lot of listening before giving his or her opinion. He or she must understand the reality in order to be able to give an opinion.

How do we know that what the mentee is proposing is the reality and not just an interpretation of it?

In the end, we must never forget that everything the mentor says or thinks about a particular situation of the mentee is usually based on what the mentee tells him or her. Asking and listening helps to better shape the working scenario and allows the mentee to see his/her own reality from different angles.

The key is to be aware that the mentoring relationship does not involve direction. A counsellor does not tell the counselee what to do, but presents new options and helps to make decisions. A mentor can be a good advisor to entrepreneurs if he/she knows how to actively listen, understand the entrepreneur's reality and present options to help them make informed decisions. Giving advice is not bad in itself, but the key is how and when to give it!!!

The mentor must listen carefully and understand the entrepreneur's situation in order to give sound advice. The mentor must also understand the entrepreneur's perspectives, goals and values. If the mentor only focuses on giving advice, without listening and understanding, the entrepreneur may be unwilling to receive it and may be discouraged rather than motivated.

Another important aspect is present options rather than imposing a single solution. The mentor must help the entrepreneur to look at the situation from different angles and consider all possible options so that he/she can decide for him/herself which is the best alternative. In addition, the mentor should be aware that the mentoring relationship does not involve direction. The mentor should not tell the entrepreneur what to do, but present new options and help him/her make informed decisions.

IN SUMMARY

A good mentor is a good advisor if he or she is a good listener, understands the entrepreneur's reality, presents options and helps the entrepreneur to make informed decisions. The mentoring relationship does not involve direction, but helping the entrepreneur to look at the situation from different angles and consider all possible options.

Important: A mentor is not a paid advisor.

A mentor is not an advisor who assumes responsibilities as decisions are made by the entrepreneur and is not a paid position. has the function of guiding and advising the entrepreneur, but not of making decisions for him or her.

The mentor brings experience and expertise to help the entrepreneur make informed and well-informed decisions, but the ultimate responsibility for making those decisions rests with the entrepreneur. The mentor's role is to be a support to the entrepreneur, not a replacement for his or her responsibilities. The entrepreneur is the one who makes the final decisions and takes responsibility for the consequences of these decisions.

In addition, it is important to note that a mentor is not a paid position. Unlike a business consultant or advisor who is paid for his or her services, a mentor works on a voluntary basis and does not expect financial compensation for his or her time and effort. The mentor is motivated to help others succeed and to contribute to the business community. It is a relationship based on trust and partnership (+), where both mentor and entrepreneur can learn and grow together.

How can a mentor become a good advisor to the entrepreneur?

TO BECOME A GOOD ADVISOR TO THE ENTREPRENEUR, THE MENTOR MUST FOLLOW SOME KEY PRACTICES:

1. Active listening: The mentor must be a good listener and pay attention to the entrepreneur's needs, concerns and goals.
2. Share your experience: The mentor should share his or her own relevant business experiences and the challenges he or she has faced, so that the entrepreneur can learn from them.
3. Provide guidance and feedback: The mentor should be able to provide constructive feedback and advice that is useful and relevant to the entrepreneur.
4. Be a role model: The mentor should act as a role model in terms of business and ethical practices, so that the entrepreneur can learn from his or her example.
5. Help the entrepreneur to set clear objectives: The mentor should help the entrepreneur set clear and achievable goals for his or her business, and work with him or her to achieve them.
6. Be an emotional support: The mentor should also be there to support the entrepreneur emotionally, as entrepreneurship can be stressful and lonely.
7. Continue learning: The mentor must be open to further learning and updating in his or her field, in order to be able to provide up-to-date and accurate advice and guidance.

By following these practices, a mentor can become a good advisor to the entrepreneur, helping them to develop personally and professionally and achieve success in their business.