Last year November, I started consulting for this small scale bakery in Lagos Nigeria. Amongst it’s staff, it has a bakery Manager who is a young guy. Apparently, the bakery Manager has no idea on how to be a manager and part of my role as the consultant was to mentor him. So, here I am with a newbie as far as managing an SME is concerned. His greatest challenge? How to delegate duties to other members of staff who happen to be young men like himself, some of who are friends and an older man. Usually, he basically just gets the job done himself instead of asking them. This means almost nothing gets done at the right time and more expenses were incurred.
What to do? I started out by letting him know that while it was good for him to learn all aspects of the bakery in order for things to run smoothly, he is also depriving the others from the learning experience they would get if he continues to do everything. I called everyone together and we had a short session on leadership, delegation and teamwork. Then, I began working on the Manager.
Mentoship is important in business as it is impossible to know everything at the start. In order to avoid the basic mistakes others have passed through and to get to where one is going faster, there is a need to have someone as a guide even while you happen to be in the driver’s seat. It is kind of like when you go to a driving school to learn driving. Your teacher seats in the passenger side while you drive the vehicle and you have a learner sign hanging at the front and back of the vehicle. The teacher guides you and so you avoid the road blocks and accidents.
Or in some cases, like the spotter for a sniper. The spotter helps the person with the responsibility for getting the target. He guides and ensures the job hers done.
Sometimes, your mentor will walk beside you holding your hands. There are times your mentor will walk ahead of you leading the way. Then there is the time the mentor has to walk behind you as he guides and ensures you get it right. Then you have times when the mentor isn’t there but you can still hear and feel him/her guiding you. At which ever stage the Mentor will ensure you are able to get the best out of every step you take.
Whether it is business or for personal reasons, a mentor will always make a difference for you. But one thing to note when deciding on who your mentor will be is if you have a common vision. Even though a mentor can make the journey run more smoothly and sometimes faster, having the wrong person as your mentor will be like wanting to pass a ball into a square hole. It won’t fit. Therefore, it is important to find the right fit.
When I was starting out with my business plan writing consultancy I had to work with a Mentor who had an investment firm. I interned with the firm and I was able to learn in a few months what would have taken so much longer. Truth of the matter? I was a science major in university but enjoyed writing and research; I basically loved living online and learning new things. So, researching and learning everything I could about new businesses and all they need to thrive was a new high for me. My mentor was brutal! I had to work 72 hours at a stretch sometimes to get all the research done for a new business plan and put everything together ready for the development of the plan for each new business. This way I was able to more experience and learn.
Starting something new can be a tough call, but having a mentor can make a whole lot of difference on whether your go home or grow strong.
Mariam Campbell is a small business consultant. She has been helping small businesses grow, set up structure and implement business plans. She also writes company businesses plans for small businesses in Nigeria. She is the founder and owner of Intercamp Services which is an SME that offers businesses consulting services. She is also part owner of Handchara Krafts Limited a craft and hardware trading and training business. Mariam is an advocate for entrepreneurship and starting small.
Intercamp Services 