5 ways to tell if your startup mentor sucks

There’s a reason the show Shark Tank has that name – the brutal waters of business are even more turbulent when you’re a startup. Having an individual – or even better, a group – to coach you through those waters can be life saving. But in unfamiliar waters, how do you know the difference between winning advice and tips that lead you toward shipwreck? Be on the lookout for these traits in your mentor to keep your horizons clear.

1. Faith, trust, and more trust

The relationship between mentor and mentee works both ways. All the good advice in the world won’t help if both parties don’t trust each other.

“One of the biggest challenges in the mentorship is that there needs to be respect on both sides. Respect what the mentor brings to the table,” Bala Girisaballa, CEO-in-residence at Microsoft Accelerator, tells Tech in Asia.

Respect means feeling connected even when you’re not in conversation. “At times, what an entrepreneur seeks is a sounding board,” says Kalaari Capital managing director Vani Kola. “Articulation goes a long way towards facilitating clarity of thought. Hence, accessibility is of paramount importance.”

You and your startup coach should be open enough that dropping a line to each other means you’ll get a quick response. Communication should feel comfortable, not like pulling teeth.

2. Come out of your comfort zone

Having open communication between founders and mentors shouldn’t mean that it’s so casual that there’s no opportunity for growth. You should be prepared to receive constructive criticism – that’s what your guide is there for.

“Whether a given piece of advice is good or bad is known only in hindsight,” explains Vani. “However, I believe that a mentor should be comfortable with giving advice that may not be particularly pleasant.”

Judge a good mentor by how many questions he or she asks, not the number of answers you get, says Bala. You should feel like your advisor is opening you up and changing your worldview as well as your company’s.

3. Understand your mentor’s motivation

Not every startup is going to get a Yoda – advisors come with varying intentions. Some of them are doing it out of the goodness of their hearts. Some want to share your journey. Some want a piece of the funds. That doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing. It helps you have a better idea of who you’re dealing with, and how he or she can help you best, says Bala.

Look into your future Obi Wan’s background. Have some idea about your own goals and how they can line up with the person coaching your company.

4. Check your receipts

5. Does it feel right?