Key to Mentor Program is to build trust

MICHAEL Taylor and Nicole Hurkens spend two hours together every month as part of Commerce Ballarat’s mentor program.

Ms Hurkens, a CPA qualified accountant, runs her business Allstyle Business Solutions providing a raft of services from BAS lodgement and cashflow reporting to financial statements and literacy advice.

She knew she had a great clientele but didn’t feel like she was helping anyone apart from pumping out ATO compliance.

“To be hooked up with someone who has good leadership and who can listen to what I am wanting to do could be a really good scenario,” she said.

“Michael has helped steer me in the right direction, we have achieved a lot in the past few months,” Ms Hurkens said.

Mr Taylor, founder of Taylored Leadership Solutions, has been involved with the mentor program for five years.

He didn’t have a mentor when he started out in the business world which is one of the reasons he said yes when Commerce Ballarat’s CEO Jodie Gillett approached him to come on board.

“I have a genuine interest in sharing my experiences with other people in business and you always learn from your mentee as well.”

Ms Hurkens has a list of what she wants to improve or change and between the two of them they tick of items as they go.

A lot of things holding her back, she realised, were personal pressures she put on herself.

“Michael and I are now working on immunity to change, to find out what is that one thing that is really holding me back within myself,” she said.

“Instead of muddling my way out, wasting time with self doubt and indecision, having a mentor like Michael has stopped me going around in circles.”

Mr Taylor considers mentors can be objective and can play the devil’s advocate.

In his experience mentees generally welcome honest feedback, that’s what they are in the program for.

“I often ask why would you be doing that or why do you think that’s the best approach,” he said.

“The whole reason for going through a mentor and mentee process is developing and improving and getting the best growth from tackling unknown possibilities.”

Mr Taylor encourages his mentees to think about what has happened in the month since the last meeting so they can discuss the outcomes.

“I like to talk about specific things that have happened, I don’t have a set template on how to work with a mentee,” he said. “It is about working together.”

Thirteen business owners are participating as mentees in Commerce Ballarat’s mentoring program this year.