Mentoring

Mentoring Definition:

Educational and/or professional development support provided by experienced colleagues

Mentors can be valuable sources of information at any stage of your company's growth. Mentors can often give you a fresh perspective on problems or challenges because they're not personally involved with your business like other advisors, including attorneys, accountants and friends. For this reason, it's important to find not only a mentor who has experience and knowledge, but also someone you can trust and feel at ease with.

To get matched with a mentor, your first step might be to contact your local SCORE chapter. If there's not a chapter near you, no problem. SCORE offers free e-mail counseling provided by 1,200 volunteers with a 48-hour or less turnaround time for quick questions.

Another mentor resource is offered by the Office of Women's Business Ownership. Its Women's Network for Entrepreneurial Training Mentoring Program matches protégés with experienced women mentors. For more information, contact the Office of Women's Business Ownership.

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Flexible Work Arrangements

Arrangements that allow employees to have a more variable schedule as opposed to complying with the standard 8-hour workday

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Goal Setting

Establishing short- or long-term objectives, usually incorporating deadlines and quantifiable measures

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Employee Handbook

A document that includes information that employees may need to refer to frequently in order to meet the terms and conditions of their employment

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Employment Contract

An agreement entered into between an employer and an employee at the time the employee is hired that outlines the exact nature of their business relationship, specifically what compensation the employee will receive in exchange for specific work performed

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