How to Build a Meaningful Mentoring Relationship as a Mentee

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You are a potential mentee, and now you have acquired a mentor.

What should you do?  How do you build a meaningful mentoring relationship?

First, take a deep breath. Remember that all relationships will take time, intention, and good faith to build.  A productive mentor-mentee relationship will not happen overnight.

Then take out a sheet of paper and start writing down why you want a mentor.  Don’t think too much about what you are writing (or sketching) down – allow the first thoughts from your mind drop directly onto this sheet of paper.  Review your raw objectives.  Don’t edit them.

With your raw objectives in mind, start conducting research on your mentor and write down interesting facts.

What are “interesting facts”?  Anything that strikes you and helps you weave together a potential narrative about this mentor’s story so that you can develop questions.

• What are the hidden gems within this mentor’s story?

• What are some missing links?

• What do you want to better understand about your mentor so that you can develop more self-awareness?

Now, examine yourself and your capabilities.

• What are the stories that motivated you?

• What are the stories that have held you back?

• What have you been teaching others?  What other subjects can you teach?

• Have you identified any problems that you could potentially assist your mentor with?

Any relationship is a two-way street – in order for any relationship to flourish, you must be ready to offer your capabilities and observations.  You must be as ready to teach as you are to learn.