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Get to know your mentee -

If you’re looking to improve your mentoring skills, a good place to start is making sure you really know the person you’re mentoring.

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Get to know your mentee -

Take the time to ask your mentee questions. What are their goals, and what makes them tick? The better you understand what drives your mentee, the better you’ll be able to support them.

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Understand what your mentee wants to learn -

An important part of getting to know your mentee is working out what they want to gain from your mentoring. Make sure you really understand what they want to learn.

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Understand what your mentee wants to learn -

Ask your mentee what they see in you that they want to develop, and the next time you use that particular skill, invite them to watch and learn.

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Help with the little things -

A detail that well-meaning but less effective mentors often miss is willingness to help with the little things. All too often mentors are ready to provide grandiose advice, but the devil is in the detail.

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Help with the little things -

The best mentors are those who are willing to help with the little things that are actually big, such as drafting an email or dressing for particular events.

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Know yourself -

Another great step to take in your mentoring journey is to do some self-reflection and work out what it really is you can bring to the role.

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Know yourself -

Take a good hard look at your skills, strengths, and experiences and go into the mentor-mentee relationship knowing what you bring to the table.

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Remember your mentee's situation -

An important but often overlooked piece of advice: remember your mentee’s situation. Not everything you do now will be appropriate to a mentee’s situation.

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Remember your mentee's situation -

Try and remember what it was like when you were in the early stages of your career, and tailor your mentoring approach accordingly.

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Establish expectations -

It is a good idea, too, to establish expectations at the very beginning of the relationship. Find out from your mentee what a thriving mentoring relationship looks like to them.

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Establish expectations -

Remember that the relationship needs to have a purpose, and that the task of taking notes, learning, and applying belongs to the mentee.

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Let your mentee lead -

Letting the mentee lead is the best way to help them thrive. Guiding and empowering, rather than directing, is generally more effective.

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Let your mentee lead -

Make sure you give encouragement, help identify their skills and resources, and explore new ideas alongside them. Use your expertise only to inform your questions.

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Stop judging yourself -

The difference between a good mentor and a great one is often in their ability to turn off the self-critique mode. Being overly self-critical often stands in a mentor’s way, since it makes them question every decision.

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Stop judging yourself -

Remind yourself that your mentor is focused on their own development, not yours. All you need to do is your best and teach from experience.

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Practice active listening -

Active listening is another important skill if you want to be a great mentor. Indeed, one of the most important things a mentor can do for a mentee is listen.

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Practice active listening -

Let your mentee talk and don’t feel like you always have to know all the answers. More often than not, your mentee already knows the answer; they just need to talk it through.

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Mix up the coaching and mentoring -

Understand the difference between mentoring and coaching, and try to toggle between the two. Mentoring involves drawing on your own experience and understanding.

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Mix up the coaching and mentoring -

Coaching involves asking open-ended questions in order to create awareness on behalf of your mentee. The right mix of both makes for a very productive relationship.

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Build a rapport and empower your mentee -

This one perhaps goes without saying, but do your best to create a good rapport with your mentee. Make sure you create a safe space for them, and demonstrate a genuine interest.

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Build a rapport and empower your mentee -

Be supportive and honest, and always do what you say you’re going to. Keeping appointments and honoring agreements goes a long way when mentoring.

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Make sure the relationship is reciprocal -

Perhaps a less obvious point is that the mentor-mentee relationship should be reciprocal. Mentoring should always be trusting and collaborative.

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Make sure the relationship is reciprocal -

Make sure it’s clear from the outset how each partner in the relationship will contribute and learn from each other. There should always be a climate that supports learning.

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Share the bad as well as the good -

Don’t be afraid to share the bad as well as the good. This one is hugely important; not only will it make you seem more human, but your mentee needs to learn from your mistakes.

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Share the bad as well as the good -

Remind yourself that you don’t need to have the answer to every question; it’s more important to be authentic and allow your mentee to observe.

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Get excited! -

Last but not least, enjoy it! Positive emotions always rub off on other people, and if you are an enthusiastic mentor, your mentee will remember you for it.

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Get excited! -

Try and do something to charge yourself up before meeting with your mentee. Blast some tunes or go for a run, whatever it takes to energize you and get you ready for the session.

Sources: (Forbes)

See also: The best ways to show your work team you appreciate them

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