Characteristics of Excellent Mentors

Think about the traits and the questions, so that you can assess your own mentoring skills.

• Good listener/sounding board
• Knowledgeable
• Nonjudgmental
• Able to give constructive feedback
• Honest and candid
• Able to network and find resources
• Successful in career
• Willing/able to devote time to developing others
• Eager to learn

Do a self-assessment and know what you are offering to your mentee and what you expect of yourself.

• What are my strengths as a mentor?
• What are my challenges as a mentor?
• In what ways can I compensate for my mentoring weaknesses (e.g., books, training, advice from good role model)?

Mentoring and Coaching Skills | Giving Effective Feedback