Watch our short video and read the brief summary.

Why it Matters

A better connection with your mentee means you can better support them and they will be more engaged. Every mentor-mentee pairing is unique, but we have identified some key ingredients that can contribute to a successful start.

If in doubt, remember this guiding principle: let the entrepreneur know you are on their side. Be their champion, support them, and show them that you are there for them. Many social entrepreneurs work alone and face significant challenges — your encouragement can make a huge difference and truly boost their confidence.

Getting to Know Each Other

• Share a little about your work and personal background and ask the entrepreneur about their journey.
• Go a little deeper, what drives you both? Discuss motivations and values.

This can all contribute to creating a safe space, allowing them to be honest about their struggles, which in turn enables you to provide more meaningful support.

Deciding If You Can Work Together

• Clarify the entrepreneur’s goals: What do they want to achieve in the short and long term? What does success look like for them?
• Define goals for the mentoring relationship: Agree what success looks like for your time together.
• Be realistic and promote wellbeing: Ensure goals and timelines are achievable whilst preventing burnout.

Setting Expectations and Ways of Working

Establishing clear expectations and ground rules from the start helps prevent misunderstandings later. Consider the following:

• Communication preferences: Does the entrepreneur prefer video calls, emails, or messages?
• Availability: When are you both available to meet?
• Support style: Do they want hands-on guidance or more of a soundboard approach?
• Meeting logistics: How will you schedule meetings? What happens if one of you needs to cancel?
• Inclusivity: Discuss preferred communication styles, avoid jargon, and adapt to their ways of working where possible.

Building Rapport

Let the entrepreneur know you are there for them. Here are some practical tips:

• Deep listening: Follow the 80/20 rule—listen 80% of the time, speak 20%.
• Open questions: Encourage discussion with prompts like, “Tell me more about…”
• Summarising and repeating back: This reassures the entrepreneur that they are heard and understood.
• Coaching-style questions: Use the GROW model (Goal, Reality, Options, Way Forward) to help structure discussions.

Insights from Social Entrepreneurs

Social entrepreneurs have shared what has helped in their early stages of mentoring:

• Take time to read about their business in advance.
• Consider dedicating an initial session to learning about their enterprise in more detail.
• Share your background and experiences openly and honestly. This creates a safe environment and makes it easier for entrepreneurs to share and be vulnerable.

Common Challenges & How to Adapt

It’s normal to encounter challenges in the early stages of mentoring. Be prepared to check in and adjust as needed:

Are they ready for what they are asking for?

• Ensure they have the necessary foundations in place before diving into specific areas. If they do not, can you help or perhaps signpost them on?

Do they know their priority?

• Help them clarify what they should focus on first.

Do they have capacity to engage?

• If they’re overwhelmed or priorities have changed, consider adjusting meeting frequency or pausing your sessions.

How is their communication?

• If they frequently cancel or don’t respond, check if adjustments need to be made.

Is mentoring the right fit for them?

• Be flexible. If they need a consultant or professional advice instead, refer them to alternative support options.

For any questions or support, please contact us at UnLtd.

Thank you for being a part of our mentoring community!