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Mentor And Mentee Relationship

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Mentor And Mentee Relationship

No mentor and mentee relationship are the same. They come in different shapes and sizes. However, there are key qualities that each mentor-mentee relationship should possess:

  • Willingness to help each other succeed
  • Disseminate information as needed
  • Give and receive feedback both ways
  • Improve interpersonal skills
  • Actively listen and communicate
  • Empathize for one another
  • Respect each person's time

    • Food For Thought

    There’s no such thing as the perfect mentor and mentee relationship. Each relationship is unique to the people involved. Whether you're exchanging career advice or personal stories, a mentor and mentee should have mutual respect for each other. And who knows? This mentor and mentee relationship might transcend to a life-long friendship.

    The role of a mentor is simple: Provide guidance and support to a mentee to help them develop professional and personal skills. During a mentor-mentee relationship, a mentor will wear different hats and take on roles that help the mentee achieve their goals.

    So, what are the roles mentors take to help a mentee achieve his/her goals?

    • Mentorship: Mentors will provide constant feedback, share advice, and give insights into their specific industry. Often times, mentors will share personal anecdotes like, “I wish I knew this…”
    • Devil’s advocate: Mentors will challenge the mentee when it comes to making major decisions. That means playing the opposite side and providing new angles to a decision.
    • Support System: They celebrate the big and small wins, show support when mentees face setbacks, and consistently provide words of encouragement.
    • Resource: Mentors have countless resources from tools to people to jobs. When mentors and mentees build a strong rapport, the mentor is inclined to provide the necessary tools, introduce their network, and create new professional connections.

      • As for the role of the mentee, it is simple too: To learn and absorb as much information as they can from the mentor. While the role of the mentee is less varied, they still play an integral role in the relationship. The Mentee can drive the mentorship relationship forward by asking questions and reflecting on their personal values and goals.


      Ultimately, the Mentee should engage mentorship when they have a clear sense of the outcomes they wish to achieve.

      So, What should the Mentee do?

      1. Initiate

      Mentees must self-identify as needing mentorship. While everyone could benefit from some form of mentorship, the Mentee must be prepared to reach out for help. Sometimes, there's work that needs to be done before engaging a Mentor.

      • Identify that they would benefit from mentorship.
      • Initiate the mentorship relationship by reaching out for help.
      • Understand that they may need to go through preparatory work to be ready to meet with a Mentor.

        • 2. Engage

        Once a Mentee is ready to meet with a Mentor, they must embrace the process by fully engaging. There are many different types of mentorship to engage with, from one-time to long-term, in-person to remote.

        • Give feedback to the Mentor.
        • Listen actively in meetings or on the phone, and respond to emails with care.
        • Demonstrate appreciation for Mentorship and support.
        • Inform Mentors of how you've applied their suggestions, or implemented their advice.

          • 3. Reflect And Act

          Without reflection and follow through, the mentorship relationship cannot progress.


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          WeInspirePodcastBy Benjamin Nathaniel