Mentees are expected to assume increasing responsibility for their learning while the mentor correspondingly releases control. It is an important part of the learning journey.
The Resources section of this site is rich in useful information and tools but if you are looking for the essentials to learn about how to make the most of your mentoring relationship, here is a short list to get you started:
I need a mentor
How do I find a suitable mentor?
- Look around you and ask yourself “Who would I like to learn from?”
- Talk about your desire to be mentored with your supervisor or HR director. Explain to them what you would like to learn and why.
- Be intentional about learning from more experienced colleagues, ask good questions, listen to the stories they share.
I have a mentor
How do I draw the most benefit from a mentoring relationship?
- Regularly review and update the goals of the mentorship.
- Be proactive, intentional and communicative. The main goal of the mentorship is to help you develop.
- Be couragesous to try new things and then take time to debrief with your mentor.
We are stuck
Our mentoring relationship has got stuck. What can I do?
- Initiate a conversation with your mentor to discover what is blocking you (Eg.: scheduling issues, overwork, misunderstandings, differing expectations, personality differences etc.)
- Review your mentoring agreement together.
- Ask your supervisor for support.
“I am very pleased to have a mentor
who helps me see my mistakes and gives me valuable suggestions for
how I can improve. Having a knowledgeable mentor by my side motivates me and pushes me to do better and better each day.”
— Nouhou
Resources for mentees:
- Take the Introduction to Mentoring online training (18 hrs)
- Formal Mentoring Agreement Template for download
- Mentoring Planning Worksheet – a google doc for you to use to agree on the SMART goals of the mentorship
- Robust Mentoring: Strengthening mentoring in SIL – ebooklet for download
- Cross-cultural Mentoring: A Brief Comparison of Individualistic and Collectivistic Cultures – article by S. Hong
- Why Mentoring Programs and Relationships Fail – an article by D. Clutterbuck
- 25 questions to ask a mentor – article by J. Miller
- How to receive from a mentor – by Growing Leaders
Mentoring Matters 