Watch on YouTube

Why It Matters

Building a strong connection at the start of your mentoring relationship is essential. A well-established relationship leads to a more engaged and productive connection, helping social entrepreneurs thrive. Every mentor-mentee pairing is unique, but we’ve identified key ingredients that 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 believe in their potential. Many social entrepreneurs work alone and face significant challenges—your encouragement can make a huge difference.

Establishing the Relationship

Your first few meetings will set the foundation for your mentoring connection. This involves two key areas:

1. Getting to know each other
2. Deciding if and how you can work together

Getting to Know Each Other

• Share your background: What has led you to your current work?
• Discuss motivations and values: What drives you? This helps create a safe space for honest discussions.
• Encourage the entrepreneur to share their story, motivations, and challenges.

A safe and trusting environment allows entrepreneurs to be open about their struggles, enabling you to provide 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?
• Define goals for the mentoring relationship: What does success look like for your time together?
• Be realistic and promote well-being: Ensure goals and timelines are achievable to prevent burnout.

Setting Expectations and Ways of Working

Establishing clear expectations 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 sounding board approach?
• Meeting logistics: How will you schedule meetings? What happens if one of you needs to cancel?
• Inclusivity: Be mindful of different communication styles, avoid jargon, and adapt to their preferences where possible.

Building Rapport

Strong rapport is built through active listening and open communication. Here are some practical tips:

• Deep listening: Follow the 80/20 rule—listen 80% of the time, speak 20%.
• Open-ended 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 them in their early mentoring stages:

• Take time to research: Read about their business in advance.
• Understand their journey: Consider dedicating an initial session to learning about their enterprise.
• Share your background openly: Transparency fosters trust and makes it easier for entrepreneurs to share their experiences.

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:

1. Are they ready for what they are asking for?
   • Ensure they have the necessary foundations in place before diving into specific areas.
2. Do they know their priority?
   • Help them clarify what they should focus on first.
3. Do they have capacity to engage?
   • If they’re overwhelmed, consider adjusting meeting frequency.
4. How is their communication?
   • If they frequently cancel or don’t respond, check if adjustments need to be made.
5. Is mentoring the right fit for them?
   • If they need a consultant or expert advice instead, refer them to alternative support options.

Final Thoughts

Starting your mentoring connection well is crucial to ensuring a positive and impactful experience. Your role as a mentor can provide invaluable guidance and confidence to social entrepreneurs, helping them navigate challenges and grow their ventures.

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

Thank you for being a part of our mentoring community!