De Montfort University, Leicester (DMU) is offering business bosses free mentoring and coaching as they try to plan their next steps. But many people may be unfamiliar with the benefits of mentoring and how it can help to deliver results and bring clarity to plans and ideas.
DMU’s Associate Professor Enterprise, Andrew Nicholson, is an experienced business mentor and consultant who firmly believes in the power of coaching to develop and grow companies. He said: “If people who have not worked with a mentor or coach before it can feel a bit daunting, but having someone in your corner who is challenging you, listening to your ideas and helping you plan can make an enormous difference.
“There are business books and information online, but what a coach or mentor has is a personal connection. They are able to give you personalised advice that is all about you and your business.”
One of Andrew’s mentoring clients is Annie McNeely who has recently left a corporate career as a senior manager for leading lifestyle company Joules to work for herself launching her own consulting business AMc Consulting.
While she was preparing to make the move from full-time work, she was able to turn to Andrew as a sounding board. She said: “My background is in operations and facilities, which is Andrew’s too, so I knew that he understood what I did and also, has been a consultant.
“There are lots of coaches who look at self-management and setting goals, but what I needed was someone with that industry experience and who would have some insight into the ‘bumps in the road’ that entrepreneurs experience.”
Having Andrew as a mentor has proved its worth, she added. “Even if it’s not necessarily about giving you the answer, chatting things through brings insight and support. Mentoring is about having
someone who you can trust and respect giving you good feedback and being in your corner.”
DMU is offering free mentoring and coaching to Leicester businesses to help them through this unprecedented time.
How do I apply?
All we ask is that you are 100% committed to your own personal development
100% committed to your business
Able to be open and honest about your current business goals
Willing to discuss and debate with your coach/mentor
Willing to be challenged by your coach/mentor
Willing to make achievable and motivational goals for yourself and your business
