getting the most out of mentorship
TRANSCRIPT
A Little Help...Getting the Most Out of Mentorship
3 Types of Mentors
- Sponsor or Advocate
- Experienced Guide
- Coach
Types of Mentoring Relationships
- Single Leader
- Mixed Level
- Peer
Qualities of a Good Mentee
- Self Directed
- Appreciative
- Enthusiastic
- Communicative
- Open-minded
- Honest
Questions to think about:- What is it you really want you (or your
company) to do or be?- What are you doing well to help you get there?- What are you not doing well that is preventing you
from getting there?- What will you do differently to meet those
challenges?- Where do you need help?- How do you define success in the mentoring relationship?
What can you get out of mentorship?- Advice on business trajectory/options- Learn to develop maximum potential- Learn to set business goals and strategies to achieve
them- Expand networks and broaden horizons- To use the successful person as a role
model- Get a big picture view of your business
Picking the Right Mentor
- Can being my mentor be of value for them?
- Do I like and respect this person?- Does this person have the time and interest?
- Can this person help open doors/create opportunity for me?- Does this person have the personality and relevant skillset to challenge me in unexpected ways?
Tips for Success- Know what your goals
are- Document the
meeting
- Pick the right settings
- Be open, honest and actively listen- Know when it’s not
working - Manage Expectations (!!)- Give thanks &
feedback
Knowing what your goals areThink about what you want to achieve broadly. What is the "vision" of the relationship and what does success look like?
Activity 1: Try working backwards and describing yourself "after" the mentoring.
Activity 2: Figure out how will you know when you have achieved the goals of mentoring.
Picking the right setting
- Don’t meet at loud places- Find a place where you can speak freely- Make sure the location is convenient to your mentor- Set next meeting time at the end of each
meeting
Documenting the Meeting- Compose meeting agendas in advance- Make sure every agenda item drives
outcomes- Give your mentor time to review agenda & provide feedback- Prioritize important items first
- Try to estimate how long each item will take to go through- Summarize the meeting, focusing on key takeaways and action items
Be Open, Honest & Actively Listen
- Commit to challenging yourself & your assumptions
- Take notes or record the session
- Repeat back in your own words
Know when it’s not working
- Make sure there’s chemistry
- Don’t drag on a relationship
- Don’t hold mentors on a pedestal
Giving Thanks & Feedback
- Say thank you whenever you can
- Provide specific examples of ways they’ve helped you
Managing Expectations- Establish communication protocol
- Establish procedures for setting up meetings- Identify availability and frequency of meeting times
- Renegotiate mentoring agreement when things change
- Set ground rules
Set Ground Rules
- Helps both parties understand their rights & responsibilities- Establishes boundaries of the relationship
- Determines the scope of what’s discussed- Clarifies issues w/ legal ramifications (like
confidentiality)
Know what to expect from the mentoring relationship
- Availability of mentor outside of session- Other considerations: (notes, cancellations, sessions)
Sample Ground Rules
- Both parties will be on time to meetings (or alert otherwise)- Both parties will be open-minded & non-judgemental
- As confidential as is legally possible- Meetings take place in a quiet, private place w/ vegan
options
- Either party can withdraw whenever necessary
- Will only discuss professional life
You Need to Have Ownership Over Your Own
Development
FIN