No matter where you are on your career or business journey, it doesn’t matter if you are starting out or if you are now an experienced business leader, we all need help from time to time. This has never been truer than in the current economic climate and uncertainty. The construction industry is facing a myriad of challenges, everything from skill shortages, material supply issues, cost inflation, recruitment, and retention challenges, more stringent legislation, ever increasing customer expectation, fierce competition and not to mention the increasingly complex contractual environment.

Leading a business can be a very lonely place, it can be difficult and sometimes dangerous to confide in colleagues. Also, having sat on many boards across my career, it is evident that many business leaders don’t get challenged on their decisions or actions, which often leads to poor outcomes. External help isn’t always readily available, and it can be difficult to get someone who really understands your sector.

Engaging with an experienced mentor can be a highly effective and cost-efficient way of getting the support you need to overcome the challenges you will inevitably face.

I have been very fortunate throughout my career to have benefitted from tapping into the knowledge and insights that mentors can provide. Their input and advice helped me climb the career ladder. When I was running businesses their support and expertise was even more valuable. Even today, I still have three or four people that I regularly consult with, to bounce ideas off, who offer challenge without judgement and who provide a dose of realism, when its needed.

I have listed below some of the benefits you could accrue from working with an experienced mentor.

• Experience and Insight
  Mentors are seasoned professionals, who bring a wealth of experience and insight to the table. They have more than likely faced and overcome similar challenges and can provide insights on how to navigate complex situations based on their own learning. Getting access to another perspective can provide valuable insights.
• Networking Opportunities
  Mentors often have extensive networks across a variety of industries. Through mentorship, you can gain access to valuable connections, and sources of information. They can also create opportunities for partnerships, and collaborations, and career progression.
• Objective Feedback
  A good mentor provides that valuable external perspective on your decision making and actions. Getting this unbiased feedback can be crucial for avoiding pitfalls, personal and professional development, helping you see your strengths and areas for improvement.
• Guidance on Leadership Skills
  Ensuring effective leadership is an ongoing learning process. A mentor can offer guidance on leadership skills, communication strategies, and other qualities essential for success.
• Career Development
  Mentors can assist you in setting SMART career goals. They can provide advice on career avenues, skill development, and help identify opportunities for growth within your organisation or indeed the broader industry.
• Confidentiality and Trust
  The mentor-mentee relationship should be built on trust, and discussions should take place in a confidential setting. You will feel more comfortable discussing sensitive issues, seeking advice, and exploring potential solutions in this supportive environment.
• Learning from Mistakes
  A mentor will have made mistakes in their own career and can guide you to learn from their experiences. This can be a valuable resource to ensure you make informed decisions and avoiding the pitfalls.
• Personal Development
  A good mentor can also contribute to your personal growth. They may offer insights into work-life balance, stress management, and maintaining a healthy perspective on both personal and professional challenges.
• Motivation
  A good mentor can help provide you with motivation and reassurance when you need it. Which we all do from time to time.
• Succession Planning
  For businesses, succession planning is crucial. A mentor can assist in identifying and developing potential successors, helping to ensure a smooth transition at the appropriate time.
• Continuous Learning
  A healthy attitude to continuous learning is a prerequisite for both career success and business growth. The business environment is dynamic and unpredictable, and you need to stay in tune with trends and changes. Mentors can act as guides, recommending relevant resources, sharing their own continuous learning experiences, and helping you stay ahead of the game.

Engaging a mentor could be one of the most valuable investments you make in your career or business, they can help you streamline and smooth the process of career progression and they help you make better-informed business decisions. A good mentor provides you with a safe support environment, a font of relevant and expert knowledge, and a practical and safe sounding board for your ideas and decisions.

Mentoring compared with other support mechanisms such as, training and consultancy, is very time effective, with sessions usually lasting a couple of hours. Depending on your circumstance, you may only require to check-in with a mentor once a month. In fact, they will be there whenever you need them.
A good mentor can take you to another level, whilst saving you a lot of stress, time, and money.

• Paul McDevitt is managing director or McDevitt & Co