Give a Man a Fish....

Give a Man a Fish, and You Feed Him for a Day. Teach a Man to Fish, and You Feed Him for a Lifetime 🦈

A consultant’s take on this may be that the client asked for a fish and we gave him one – job done. Frankly there is a role for this approach without a doubt, yet tomorrow, the client will want another fish but the consultant is long gone. A Mentor on the other hand, will look at the same client requirement and work to educate that client so that they may catch fish every day and therefore become self-sufficient.

Having a mentor can be incredibly valuable in many aspects of life – not just fishing. A mentor serves as a guide, providing wisdom, experience, and support to help you navigate challenges and make informed decisions. Everyone can benefit from mentorship, including executives and business owners, especially in young companies or start-ups.

It’s like having a trusted advisor who can help steer you towards personal success as well as growing your business.

Effective mentoring requires active listening, empathy, and the ability to provide constructive feedback. It's about building a trusting relationship and creating a safe space for open dialogue and learning. Ultimately, it’s not just about imparting knowledge but also about inspiring, empowering, and nurturing the potential of others.

The relationship between a mentor and mentee is typically based on trust, respect, and open communication and is mutually rewarding.

Few consultants, like myself, are hybrids - capable of working against consultancy project deliverables as well as offering advice and guidance as mentors.

So, do you want a fish 🐟 or do you want to fish 🎣 ?

Let me know.

If you liked this, please leave a 👍

Norman Wilkinson

CEO and Principal Consultant

norm@influentialsales.co.uk