Guidelines for Mentoring Success

"Employees who have had mentors earn between $5,610 and $22,450 more a year than employees who have not had mentors." Source: Business Finance Magazine, 2000

• Be sure you are clear on such terms as how often you will communicate; whether it will be by phone, e-mail, or both; how quickly you will respond; and confidentiality.
• Make contact frequently, especially during the first few weeks, to build a trusting relationship.
• Respect your mentee/mentor's experience and views even if you don't agree.
• Follow up when you make a commitment to get information, take action, etc. Don't ever leave your mentor hanging. If you don't respond, the mentor will feel that he/she wasn't helpful. You never want to leave someone who has volunteered to help with this kind of impression.
• Don't ever leave your mentee hanging. If you don't respond, the mentee will feel rejected and disappointed. You never want to leave someone who has asked for mentoring assistance feeling uncertain about the relationship.
• Be appreciative of whatever you get from your mentee/mentor; learn his or her strengths and seek or offer advice in these areas.
• Work hard to make the relationship a two-way street. This means you should always be on the lookout for information/resources that might be of interest to your mentee/mentor (e.g., articles you read or information you come across).
• Be flexible and enjoy the experience!
  

General Rules to Remember | Starting Your Relationship-A Mentee's Point of View