COVID-19 has changed the way we live and work. With a vast majority of the population working remotely, mentoring has also adapted to the new normal like everything else. Like face-to-face mentoring in person, remote mentoring provides you the support of having a trusted confidant by your side who can help you propel you forward.

As an entrepreneur or a small business owner, mentoring is not a luxury. It is a necessity for your growth and scaling your business. According to a study, 30 percent of entrepreneurs who opted for a single session with a business mentor experienced growth. In short, mentors can draw upon their own experiences to help you make the right decisions.

However, it can be challenging to establish a strong relationship over a video call. 

Here’s a definitive guide to help you make the most out of a remote mentoring session:

Build a relationship 

Mentoring is a human-to-human connection. To make the most out of it, it is critical to build a rapport with your mentor so that you are comfortable asking and answering some tough questions. 

It’s best to break the ice before diving deep into the core issues. However, given that a physical meeting may not be possible right now, schedule a virtual coffee session and get to know each other. Look at this as a chemistry session to learn more about each other and find out the best communication methods. 

Manage your expectations well

Clear communication is at the heart of any mentoring relationship. Both mentors and mentees should establish their goals right in the beginning to make remote mentoring a smooth experience. For example, you can follow the SMART approach to ensure that the goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. 

As a mentee, you should tell your mentor about the issues you are facing and the kind of guidance you need so that the mentor can provide a more structured framework and insights. You should also agree on the frequency and duration of the meetings.  

Apart from this, also agree on the technology you will be using for your virtual meetings. 

Always have a backup plan to take care of tech issues

Technical issues are a part of virtual mentoring. The Internet connection can be patchy, you may unexpectedly get logged off from a Zoom session, or your laptop might refuse to power up during the session — there are various ways in which technical issues can test your patience during a remote mentoring session. 

The best way to get around the issue? Talk to your mentor in advance and have a backup plan. Figure out a couple of alternate platforms you can use in case the primary one fails.

For example, if your laptop is giving you trouble, it is best to switch over to a phone call to have an audio session. Always make sure to test your system a few minutes before the mentoring session is scheduled. This will help you avoid any last-minute surprises. 

Make sure to have a strong feedback system

As mentoring is a two-way street, feedback is important for both mentors and mentees to assess the areas of improvement. The best way of providing feedback is through continued engagement with your mentor and vice-versa. 

Get creative and use a Google form to share your feedback. Focus on providing specific feedback instead of making generic observations. Always provide details about the changes you would like to implement in the process and how you expect them to help. 

Look at the feedback exercise as a way to bring forward different perspectives of doing the same thing. So try not to treat it as a window to make endless complaints about each other. 

Optimize the right tools to make most of the mentoring session 

If you have a choc-a-bloc calendar like most business owners, keeping track of mentoring sessions can be difficult. Make scheduling tools your best friend to ensure you never miss a session. Use calendar blocking to set aside time for the mentoring session every week. Use a task management tool such as Trello or Asana to track your tasks. Use an instant messaging service to stay in touch with your mentor. 

Using the right tools can help you streamline the process and gain more from every remote mentoring session.

Looking for remote mentoring sessions for your growth?

Entrepreneurship is challenging and fraught with unexpected events. As a first-time entrepreneur, doing this by yourself can be extremely nerve-wracking. Due to this, there is an increasing need for business owners to lean on mentors and learn from their experiences. Strong mentorship can not only help you think outside the box but also prepare you to pivot during a crisis.

This is exactly what the experts at Jupiter Business Mentors are here for.  We connect mentors to the start-up community and small & medium businesses. Our business mentors can help you grow and navigate the challenges successfully, especially during those rocky first years when there’s a lot on your plate. The mentors can also advise you on all aspects of your business: right from process flows to picking the right business model for maximizing revenue.

Our platform has over 35 expert mentors across industry verticals, and all the mentoring sessions are completely virtual! Want to see if this is suited for you? Subscribe right now and get 90 minutes of free sessions with any six mentors on the platform.