To mentor a busy man, invite him with topics that matter to him, respect his time with a clear and limited commitment, and train him with the goal of equipping him to mentor others. Busy men are often driven to accomplish great things. When they see that discipleship helps them grow in influence and faithfulness, they’re far more likely to make room for it.
Invite Him with Purpose
It’s easy to assume that a man with a packed calendar won’t want one more commitment, so we never ask. But don’t shy away from inviting a busy man into a mentoring relationship. Often he’s busy because he wants his life to count, and that’s exactly the kind of man who will benefit from intentional discipleship.
Be thoughtful about what you’ll talk about. If he’s wrestling with leadership at work, being a better husband, or raising his kids, start there. When the topics connect with what he already cares about, he’ll see the value right away. Jesus called busy working men too, and he spoke their language.
Matthew 4:18-20 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
Jesus didn’t wait for Peter and Andrew to clear their schedules. He met them in the middle of their workday and gave them a compelling vision. A good invitation does the same thing: it meets a man where he is and shows him where God could take him.
Invest with a Clear Time Commitment
Busy men need to know what they’re signing up for. Be clear up front about the time commitment. Something like thirty minutes a week, or every other week, for a set number of weeks is easy to say yes to. An open-ended request feels overwhelming, while a defined one feels doable.
Make it as convenient as possible. Offer to meet near his office, grab breakfast before work, or connect by phone or video call. When you show that you value his time, he’ll be more willing to invest it. Scripture calls all of us to use our time wisely.
Ephesians 5:15-16 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
Thirty focused minutes can accomplish a lot. Come prepared with a short topic or passage to discuss, stay on track, and end on time. Respecting his schedule builds trust, and trust keeps him coming back.
Train Him to Mentor Others
Speak plainly about your goal: you want to equip him to mentor others. Tell him you’d like to help him become more influential and more effective in the things God has called him to do. A busy man wants his efforts to produce lasting results, and multiplying disciples is one of the most lasting investments he can make.
2 Timothy 2:2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.
Paul’s vision spans four generations: Paul, Timothy, reliable people, and others. When a busy man understands that his time with you is preparing him to pour into his own family, coworkers, and friends, mentoring stops feeling like one more obligation. It becomes a strategic way to make his life count for the kingdom.
The best way to train him is to model what you hope he’ll do. Let him see how you prepare, how you ask good questions, and how you follow up between meetings. Before long, encourage him to invite a coworker or friend into the same kind of relationship, and offer to coach him through it. That’s how one busy man becomes the start of a whole chain of disciples.
The Takeaway
To mentor a busy man, invite him with topics that matter to him, invest in him with a clear and convenient time commitment, and train him to mentor others. Just as Jesus called busy fishermen to fish for people, you can help a busy man discover that discipleship is worth his time.
