Q: Why a Mentor Program?
A: First the largest corporations in the world use mentoring on a continual base because it just plain works!
It will:
Transfers knowledge
Develops job skills
Duplicates best practices
Helps achieve diversity goals
Manages organizational knowledge

Q: Why would people volunteer to mentor for free?
A: People who are willing to impart their acquired knowledge to those in their community create a win-win situation.  They have pleasure of sharing what they have spent their lives loving, with someone who is interested.  They then in turn get to enjoy watching the growth of a company they know they have been able to contribute to.  And last they are also able to enjoy the services of a well run company in their own neighborhood.

Q: Why would I need a mentor?
A: Why wouldn’t you?  If you happen to be that lucky person that has every corner of the skills needed to run a business, and you also have the time to impart that knowledge successfully to your employees as well, then you are a super hero, and we will be watching for you in Forbes.   But then again the majority of the corporations written up in Forbes already have active mentor programs in place.

Q: I’m a little gun shy about “asking for help”.
A: We don’t want you to ask for help.  We are asking you to use the resources that are available to you.  You would buy a computer program if it was capable of making your job easier and more productive, you would buy and use a piece of equipment if it made it capable to expand your business or help free up your time to acquire more business.  Well we have a new program and fantastic tool available to Lake Anna Chamber of Commerce members only.  And guess what it is FREE!!  So don’t ask for help.  Call the mentor up and say “Hey, I see you volunteered to mentor anyone in the chamber and I would really like to talk with you to see if there is anything that could help me in my business.”

Q: How do Mentor programs work?
A: There is an article that The Mentor Group has written.  Every mentor will receive it and we ask you to take 5 minutes to read it, because it is very to the point, well written, and can easily answer your questions and concerns about mentoring.
Click here to read the article.

Q: I’m not sure who I need as a mentor to help.  What do I do now?
A: It would be a good idea to make a list of the things you would like to learn more about.
Then pick one and see if there is a mentor that has that one thing listed as a mentoring service.  You are welcome to call a mentor for help as often as you feel it necessary.  But don’t expect a mentor to cover every need you have.  Take it one at a time.  It will be much more effective that way.  Please read the article from the question above.

We hope this has helped you to make a decision as to whether a mentor is the answer for you.

And future mentors, please take the time to help.  You can sign up here.