Top Mentoring Tips
A successful Mentoring relationship should be fulfilling and beneficial for all involved. Use these 10 suggestions for a more effective and beneficial relationship:
1. Keep communications open.
Mentee: Be up front. Let your mentor know what your goals are and what you hope to take away from this experience.
Mentor: Help your mentee set realistic expectations. Also, if you’ll be unavailable because of business or personal travel, let your mentee know.
2. Offer support.
Mentee: Remember, your mentor is there for you, but only as a guide.
Mentor: Encourage communication and participation. Help create a solid action plan.
3. Define expectations.
Mentee: Review your goals. Make sure your mentor know what to expect from you and what you expect from them.
Mentor: Help set up a system to measure achievement…are they interested in TAGME certification down the road? Do they want to present or serve on a committee? Do they just need to get through recruitment?
4. Maintain contact.
Mentee: Be polite and courteous. Keep up with your emails and ask questions.
Mentor: Respond to email. Answer questions and provide advice, resources and guidance when appropriate.
5. Be honest.
Mentee: Let your mentor know if you don’t understand something or have a differing opinion.
Mentor: Be truthful in offering your opinions, but also be tactful. Your mentee may have other ideas.
6. Actively participate.
Mentee: Listen. Ask if you can observe your mentor’s practice if they are local.
Mentor: Engage in your own learning while you are mentoring. Collaborate on projects, ask questions and experiment.
7. Be innovative and creative.
Mentee: Offer ideas on what activities you can do together.
Mentor: Share your ideas, give advice and be a resource for new ideas.
8. Get to know each other.
Mentee & Mentor: Remember that people come from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Get to know each other on an individual basis. Chances are the mentee has little or no GME experience, but may have another background that can contribute positively. Find out what that industry can bring to the table.
9. Be reliable and consistent.
Mentee & Mentor: The more consistent you are, the more you will be trusted.
And finally…
10. Stay positive!
Mentee: Remember that your mentor is offering feedback, not criticism.
Mentor: Recognize the work the mentee does and the progress made.