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Initiate. In order to sustain the
mentoring relationship, take the initiative to ask your mentor a question, to
let him or her know your educational and professional interests and
objectives, and to ask about his/her own experiences.
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Honor your commitment. Your mentor
probably has a very demanding job. He or she has volunteered to take on the
added responsibility of mentoring. Please be appreciative of your mentor’s
time and investment; respond in a timely manner to your mentor's questions and
comments. If you don't have the time to respond at length, send a short
message letting this person know you will be in contact when you have the
opportunity.
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Help Your Mentor Help You. Tell your
mentor how she/he can be most helpful to you.
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Expect Support, Not Miracles. You can
expect a certain level of support and advice from a mentor, but he or she
can't solve your problems for you. Perhaps the most valuable quality a mentor
can offer is an alternative point of view. A mentor can put the situation in
perspective, offer feedback, serve as a sounding board, and identify resources
that may be helpful to you.
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Communicate clearly. Initiate contact
with your mentor if you have questions or would like to discuss something.
Identify your needs and communicate them as clearly as possible to your
mentor. It may be helpful to put some focused energy into organizing your
thoughts and concerns before talking to your mentor, so that the time is spent
wisely.
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Be Teachable. Be willing to learn new
things, obtain another perspective, and be responsive to suggestions and
constructive criticism.
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Keep Up Your End. Work hard at being a
good mentee.
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Follow Through. When you decide to act
on your mentor’s suggestions, act in a timely manner and then report back to
him/her.
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Look ahead at your calendar. Are there
any days you know that you'll be offline or ultra-busy? If so...let the other
person know, so that if s/he doesn't hear from you, she knows it's because
you're away or you're swamped.
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Correct Misunderstanding When They Happen.
Get in touch with your mentor before a concern becomes a problem.
Developed by the University of Chicago Graduate
School of Business Career Development Office © 2003 The University of Chicago
GSB
M.E.E.T MENTORING PROGRAM
