Mentorship is a personal developmental relationship in which a more experienced or more knowledgeable person (mentor) guides and advises a less experienced or less knowledgeable person (mentee).  Such a relationship can be ongoing or time-specific with mutually identified objectives for learning, dialog, and challenge.

Mentor’s Role

- Provide advice and, when/if the mentee is ready, facilitate connections

- Offer counsel, share experiences, and provide emotional support

- Provide confidentiality and trust

- Respect the mentee’s time and attend all scheduled meetings

- Encourage learning and challenge the mentee to see things in new and creative ways

- Facilitate open exchange of ideas--including feedback and guidance that ensure authentic communications

- Identify with the mentee and then support the development of the mentee’s full potential

- Mutually agree on average monthly time commitment that is necessary and appropriate

Mentee’s Role

- Be fully self-aware and identify areas for personal growth and development that can be shared with mentor

- Clarify career objectives for mentor’s feedback

- Develop and maintain confidentiality and trust

- Demonstrate a commitment to the mentorship process and to the mentor

- Respect the mentor’s time by being fully prepared for each meeting and attend all scheduled meetings

- Demonstrate proactivity by initiating appropriate contact with mentor and prepare for meetings and discussions

- Mutually agree on monthly time commitment to the mentorship process for the successful completion of identified objectives

To maximize the benefits of mentorship, the following guidelines for the mentor will help develop a comprehensive mentorship experience for both parties. 

Establish the Relationship: Define mutually desired objectives.

Establish the Timeline, Expectations, and Modes of Communication

• Honestly and frankly assess time constraints and available time for mentoring
• Address expectations of mentor and of mentee
• Agree preferred ways of communicating:  Video conference calls, in-person meetings, emails, texts, etc.
•  Set an initial target date for assessing progress toward mutually identified objectives
• At the end of the assessment date, determine next steps

Refine Objectives

• Set clear and realistic objectives for the mentee relative to goal of becoming a senior careerist
• Provide feedback and review degree of satisfaction with the mentorship experience

Check Progress 

• Start, Stop, Review Progress, Adjust Approach as Necessary, Continue 
• Are the initial objectives still appropriate? 
• Do changes need to be made for reaching objectives (more time, more development activities, etc.)?

Continue

• Continue working toward objectives – using results from the above Stop, Start, Adjust, Continue exercise
• How can new knowledge integrate with the mentee’s current role?
• Encourage the mentee to try new things based on his/her new knowledge

Assess and Close

• Assess progress toward objectives
• Determine if the mentoring relationship needs to be extended
• Determine next areas for development
• Close relationship