Keys to a Successful Mentor/Mentee Relationship

Mentoring is often thought of as a partnership largely because there are obligations, implicit or otherwise, that each party takes on. A few keys to a successful mentee/mentor relationship are to be mindful of the intended outcomes of the relationship and to explicitly discuss the expectations of both the mentee and the mentor.

When initiating a mentoring relationship either as the mentee or mentor you might want to consider discussing the following:

• What are the goals of this relationship?
• What time commitment are we willing to invest?
• What expectations exist for both parties and who owns which responsibilities in the process?
• What challenges might arise and how will we address them?

Additionally, mentees should get organized before approaching a potential mentor. Mentees should first determine their mentoring needs, create a proposed plan for mentoring sessions, and explore which people would be best suited to assist in the areas identified.