As a business owner and coach, I’ve always believed in the transformative power of mentoring. It’s something I’ve experienced first-hand—both through running Trafalgar Marquees and in my work with fellow business leaders as a mentor and member of the Association of Business Mentors (ABM). It was interesting to see the ABM’s latest research report, which puts hard data behind what many of us in the mentoring space have known for a long time: mentoring works.
This report focuses specifically on the impact of professional paid mentoring, and the findings are powerful.
Yes, there are the numbers that make business leaders sit up and take notice—65% said mentoring helped boost revenue, 64% saw an increase in profits, and 63% expanded their teams as a result. Those are impressive metrics in anyone’s book.
But for me, what stands out most is the human impact. 70% of leaders said working with a professional mentor improved their mental health and confidence. Another 72% reported better work-life balance. These are outcomes that ripple through a business—when a leader is more grounded, confident, and supported, their team and company benefit, too.
It’s no surprise to me. Time and again, I’ve seen how mentoring provides a sounding board for decision-making, creates clarity in the chaos, and gives business owners the space and support to not just grow, but grow sustainably. As one MD quoted in the report put it, “Having that sounding board for when things get really tricky…is very good for my personal mental health.” I couldn’t agree more.
That said, the report doesn’t shy away from the challenges. A quarter of business leaders said they struggled to find a mentor—and a third highlighted the difficulty of finding someone with the right professional experience and qualifications. It’s a clear signal that while demand is growing, access isn’t always keeping pace.
That’s where we—mentors, business networks, policymakers—need to step up.
We need to raise awareness around the real value of professional mentoring. We also need to make it easier for businesses, especially SMEs, to find and connect with qualified mentors who understand the pressures of running and growing a business.
As someone who’s benefited from both sides of the mentoring relationship, I believe this is a must-have for any business looking to thrive in today’s unpredictable environment.
I’m proud to be part of a community that’s championing this cause. The ABM’s work is a timely reminder that mentoring doesn’t just help businesses perform better, it helps people lead better. And that, ultimately, is what business is all about.
Find out more about my mentoring services.
