Make the Most of Your Mentoring Relationships
Tip #1
Self-assess. Ask yourself, “What skills do I need to get where I want to go?”
Tip #2
Identify your learning goals. Put them in writing.
Tip #3
Decide together how the mentoring relationship will work – frequency and type of contact.
Tip #4
Commit the time. Don’t give up if the chemistry doesn’t feel right at the first meeting. Meet a minimum of once per month. Touch base regularly – by e-mail, phone, in person.
Tip #5
Take time to build trust and communication. Get to know each other on a personal level. Discuss your backgrounds, interests, career histories, and perspectives of your organizations.
Tip #6
Keep confidences. Nothing kills trust in a mentoring relationship faster than a breach of confidence.
Tip #7
Be sensitive to cultural and gender differences. Do a little homework. And listen.
Tip #8
Understand and plan for the phases of a mentoring relationship. Build in time for evaluation and closure.
Tip #9
This is about learning, whether you’re a protégé or a mentor. Keep a journal.
Tip #10
You don’t need a single mentor who you keep throughout your career. What you need is a mind-set that allows you to learn from those around you, no matter who they are. To get ahead, create your own multitalented “board of advisors.”