8 TRAITS of an authentic BUSINESS MENTOR Business mentors play a vital role in helping start-ups scale, access markets, and avoid costly mistakes. Finding the right mentor for your business is crucial not only during challenging times, but also as an ongoing source of guidance. You can maintain a mentor “on call” for scheduled sessions or ad-hoc advice before making key decisions. Here are the essential traits to look for in a genuine business mentor: 1. MEMBERSHIP in a professional body for ACCOUNTABILITY Your mentor should belong to a reputable professional body where they are held accountable. This gives you a channel to report any misconduct or unprofessional behavior. Research your mentor thoroughly, check online reviews, request references, and verify their authenticity. If they are not a member of a professional body but come highly recommended, ensure they operate as a legal entity so you have recourse in case of disputes. 2. BROAD business KNOWLEDGE A mentor doesn’t need to be a certified accountant but should understand financial statements, and does not have to be a lawyer but should know the basics of business laws and regulations. A strong mentor should understand multiple industries, operational requirements and compliance issues. They must be able to identify blind spots, address your business needs, and offer realistic scenarios for solving problems before you begin sessions. The right fit is essential, an ill-matched mentor can stall progress instead of advancing it. 3. Respect for time and appointments Professional mentors honor commitments. Rescheduling should be communicated well in advance, not at the last minute. If a mentor consistently disregards your time, they are disregarding you. Needing help does not mean tolerating disrespect. 4. PROPER record-keeping Tracking progress is impossible without records, therefore, your mentor should maintain professional documentation of each session, covering discussion points, proposed solutions, and agreed action plans for follow-up. 5. Stand in as a FACILITATOR and CONNECTOR A great mentor must be able to introduces you to relevant networks and opportunities without expecting commissions or referral fees. A mentor does not become your sales representative but can advocate for you where appropriate, such as facilitate meetings, writing recommendation or referral letters. 6. TRANSPARENT and structured RATES A mentor should have clear, structured fees outlined in a formal engagement letter. This should detail the services, timeframes of 3, 6, 12 months or more, session durations, and costs, any identified additional needs must be addressed before starting. A signed Service Level Agreement (SLA) or contract ensures mutual commitment. Avoid vague “casual” mentorships, even if it is pro bono you still need to have a defined agreement or else you will meet someone saying is your mentor but all the person does is to tell you about personal success and drive around with you without any impact. 7. EMPATHETIC toward YOUR situation Life can be unpredictable, an empathetic mentor understands that personal challenges may require flexibility, breaks, or temporary adjustments in the mentorship schedule. They remain supportive, offering help or referrals when needed, rather than pushing for rigid adherence to the plan. You did not enroll in a school where you mark register but in a program with mutual understanding. 8. No PERONAL agenda for YOUR BUSINESS An authentic mentor must not have hidden interest in your company no matter how successful it is. They remain neutral and objective, avoiding situations that could lead to conflicts of interest. If a mentor offers to buy equity in your business, the relationship changes from advisory to partnership as any continuity under mentorship may bring potential bias, and you may need to consider terminating that relationship. A true professional mentor focuses solely on your growth, not on securing a stake in your success, Having said that, there is nothing wrong with being mentored by a business partner provided you entered into a business partnership with someone who is more knowledgeable and you are able to learn from but not someone who came as a Professional Mentor then becomes your business partner. Should you be the one who propose partnership to your mentor you need to allow a cool off period to become business partners once your mentorship relationship has ended. Remember, you can have your mentor as one of your board members as the business grows. "Hi, I am @NdzaviDerrick and am a Business Mentor"