Overview
A mentor is a guide and a resource who paves the way to success, and derives satisfaction from helping others succeed. Your role as mentor is to inspire, encourage, and support your mentee, and to contribute to their professional and personal development.
Mentor DO's
- Take responsibility to accept meetings in a timely manner.
- Set aside time for the mentoring program and honor all appointments.
- Be flexible on meeting times and places.
- Keep information that your mentee has shared with you confidential. If something concerning the mentee needs to be discussed with others, it should first be discussed with the mentee.
- Establish open and honest communication and a forum for idea exchange.
- Foster creativity and independence. Help build self-confidence and offer encouragement.
- Provide honest and constructive feedback to your mentee.
- Provide opportunities for the mentee to talk about concerns and ask questions.
- Above all, LISTEN.
Mentor DON'Ts
- Try to give advice on everything.
- Provide your personal history, problems, animosities, successes, failures, etc unless they are constructive contributions.
- Be distracted during your session with your mentee. Give them your undivided attention.
- No show. Please be sure to alert your mentee if you cannot attend your scheduled session.
- Criticize.
Share your expertise with those willing and eager to learn.