Finding someone at work to support and encourage youâand challenge youâis one of the best ways to develop your skills and reach your career goals. Most often, this type of relationship is a mentoring one. The benefits of having a mentor are widely documented:
But to reap the benefits of mentorship for yourself or your organization it all depends on the mentor-mentee relationship. If that doesnât work nothing else will.
Having a mentor can be invaluable for career growth and development. Studies show professionals with mentors experience greater job satisfaction, faster career progression, and higher salaries. But simply having a mentor assigned to you isn’t enough – you need to build a strong connection and relationship together.
In this article we’ll explore some of the most effective strategies I’ve learned for developing a meaningful mentor-mentee relationship that delivers results.
Keep an Open Line of Communication
Frequent and open communication is vital for a productive mentorship Initiate contact regularly with your mentor – don’t always wait for them to reach out first Send updates on your latest projects, ask thoughtful questions, and let them know when you need advice.
I aim to touch base with my mentors at least biweekly. We have 30 minute check-ins scheduled on our calendars to ensure we connect consistently. Don’t be afraid to speak up if you feel out of touch. Proactive communication strengthens your relationship.
Set Clear Expectations Upfront
When first meeting your mentor, discuss what you both want to gain from the partnership. Are you looking for industry insights, career guidance, skill development, networking help? Align on shared objectives and define what support you’d find most valuable.
This upfront expectation setting helps ensure you utilize your mentor’s expertise effectively. Check back occasionally to reconfirm you’re focused on the right areas together. As we evolved our relationship, my mentor and I adjusted our goals to meet my changing needs.
Share Your Goals and Passions
Open up to your mentor about your personal and professional aspirations. The more they understand what motivates you, the better they can provide tailored advice. Discuss your background, interests, strengths, development areas, and where you want to grow.
I found sharing my 5 year vision really helped my mentor give actionable input on how I could bring it to life. Your mentor is there to help you achieve your goals – keeping them informed is key.
Prepare Discussion Topics in Advance
Come prepared for every mentor meeting with a list of agenda items and questions to drive a productive session. Reflect on challenges you’re facing and specific guidance you need. Take time to thoughtfully compile discussion topics.
Sending my mentor an agenda before each check-in allows him to prepare relevant guidance. Our conversations are much more meaningful when I share details upfront about the areas I want to discuss.
Actively Listen and Take Notes
During your meetings, listen closely to absorb your mentor’s feedback. Take notes for key takeaways and follow up items so you can reference them later. Ask clarifying questions to fully understand their advice.
I always keep a running document of notes from my sessions. I jot down valuable insights during the discussion so I can review them afterward. Active listening and note taking helps me get the most out of my mentor’s time and expertise.
Express Appreciation
Don’t forget to show gratitude for your mentor’s willingness to invest their time and energy into supporting you. Thank them verbally during meetings and in writing afterward. Share specific examples of how their guidance has helped you.
I make sure to send my mentor a quick note after each check-in appreciating his advice and reflecting on key learnings. I also share updates on progress I’ve made applying his recommendations. A little appreciation goes a long way.
Offer Value in Return
While the mentorship is focused on accelerating your development, also look for opportunities to offer value in return. Ask your mentor how you can potentially support their goals. Share relevant articles or connections.
For example, I connected my mentor with a former colleague of mine who was an expert in an area my mentor was exploring. Look for win-win ways to reciprocate, while still respecting their time constraints.
Come Prepared to Meetings
Arrive to mentor meetings ready to fully engage and make the most of your time together. Come with questions prepared, notes from your last discussion, and updated accomplishments and challenges to share.
Try not to cancel or reschedule sessions unless absolutely necessary. Make the mentorship a priority and show you’re committed to consistency. Disciplined preparation keeps your interactions productive.
Implement Their Advice
While it’s valuable to get your mentor’s perspectives, it’s even more important to act on their guidance. Follow through on suggested steps discussed during your meetings. Share the results during your next discussion.
During a recent session, my mentor recommended I volunteer to lead an upcoming project in my department. Taking his advice ended up being a tremendous growth opportunity I would have missed otherwise.
Maintain Confidentiality
Unless otherwise agreed, always treat details your mentor shares confidentially. Do not disclose information about your mentor to others without permission. Maintain trust by being discreet.
This confidentiality also applies to any sensitive information about their company or colleagues they informally mention during conversations. Handling their insights discreetly strengthens the relationship.
Give Recognition
Look for opportunities to recognize and show gratitude for your mentor publicly. Acknowledge how their guidance has positively impacted you. Thank them during presentations, in award acceptance speeches, or on social media.
Last year my company highlighted the team members who received 40 Under 40 Awards. I made sure to thank my mentor during my acceptance speech for the pivotal role he played in my career growth.
Report Back on Progress
Your mentor will be keen to know their advice is delivering results. Report back regularly on how you’re progressing on the steps you discussed together. Update them when you achieve milestones.
Before my big mid-year presentation, I reached out to share the good news that I landed the promotion we had been working towards. I made sure to recognize my mentor’s guidance that made it happen.
Collaborate on Projects
Explore opportunities to collaborate with your mentor on projects and initiatives when appropriate. Jointly producing deliverables creates richer shared experiences and memories.
My mentor invited me to work together on a chapter for an industry report he was authoring. Brainstorming content together strengthened our relationship. Look for strategic partnership opportunities.
Be Open to Critical Feedback
While praise feels great, be willing to accept constructive criticism from your mentor. They share tough feedback because they believe in your potential. Embrace critique as an instrument for self-improvement.
Don’t become defensive if your mentor provides difficult input. Thank them for their honesty and commit to learning from the experience. Valuing their candor builds trust and accountability.
Strive for Exceeding Expectations
Bring your best self to every mentor interaction and consistently demonstrate dedication through your actions. Follow through on commitments. Always over-deliver on expectations to show your engagement.
I make it a point to complete all items my mentor and I discussed by our next check-in. Fully engaging and exceeding expectations shows I’m taking full advantage of this career-accelerating partnership.
Be Patient
Recognize that building a strong mentor relationship takes time. Be patient for communication cadences to develop, personality styles to mesh, and comfort levels to grow. Allow things to evolve organically.
Not every discussion will be groundbreaking. Stick with the partnership through ups and downs, and focus on the big picture. With time, you’ll establish strong bonds.
What is a mentoring relationship?
A mentoring relationship is a connection (usually) between a more senior employee or leader and a junior employee who may be younger, or less experienced. Although the senior-junior mentoring relationship is what usually comes to mind when someone says âmentorshipâ it doesnât necessarily mean thatâs the case all the time.Â
The mentor-mentee relationship can take several different forms. For example,
The point is the relationship between a mentor and mentee can look different depending on the context and goals. Regardless of its form, there are many reasons itâs important to have a mentor, be a mentor, and have one in your workplace.
Quickly watch this snippet from a talk by Simon Sinek where he shares how great mentoring relationships are formed:
Apply what you learn
If you appreciate the advice that your mentor gives you, apply what youâve learned from them. It can be a great opportunity to follow up with them, letting them know how you applied their advice and what the outcome was. Keeping in mind how you can apply what you learn from your mentor is a great way to show your mentor that you take their advice seriously. Likewise, it holds you accountable.
How Great Mentor Relationships Are Formed | Simon Sinek
How to build a good mentorship?
When both parties express gratitude, it strengthens the mentorship and pushes everyone to put in the extra work. In addition, an overall positive attitude is the best way to establish a mentor relationship. It can boost the outcomes and create an inviting and safe environment for both mentor and mentee. 8.
What makes a good mentor-mentee relationship?
Great mentor-mentee relationships are predicated on truth, trust, and honesty. In terms of communication, both the mentor and mentee must realize and respect each other’s differences in perspectives and truths. Here are some ways to encourage healthy communication between mentor and mentee: Agree on which medium to communicate.
How do you provide value to a mentor?
I learned to always provide the mentor with at least one bit of information that she/he wouldn’t have had otherwise. Mentors tend to be older than you and work with other older-than-you people. Coming in with a perspective from your generation that you know they’ll be able to share with their colleagues is a great way to immediately provide value.
Can a mentor-mentee relationship be mutually beneficial?
Many people who end up in mentor-mentee situations rarely realize that the relationship can be mutually beneficial. While the older mentor may know the job inside and out, the mentee knows new and progressive practices that might be useful when applied to the demands of the position.
