Role of a Mentee
Did you know that mentees are 5 times more likely to be promoted? Mentoring allows mentees to develop skills and strategies to achieve their career goals. The benefits of mentoring for mentees are numerous.
However, finding yourself in the position of mentee often comes with its own set of questions. Here are the roles and responsibilities of mentees. Through this article, we share the different responsibilities related to your role so that you can fully contribute to the success of your mentoring relationship.
1. Contact the mentor of your choice
On the Elo mentoring platform, it is the mentee who has to take the first step in choosing and contacting a mentor who matches their expectations. After all, the mentee knows his or her needs best.
2. Communicate your needs and/or goals
As a mentee, it is therefore important to prepare your needs and goals in advance so that you can share them with your mentor. Without this, it will be more difficult for the mentee to explain the reason for entering into a mentoring relationship.
3. Prepare for meetings
Before each meeting, the mentee’s role is to plan an agenda, identify their objectives and communicate them to the mentor in advance. A well-prepared meeting leads to better results. By being prepared in advance, both the mentor and the mentee save time. The mentee has a better chance of reaching their goals (quickly). The exchanges will be more interesting, relevant and fruitful.
4. Be an engaged and active learner
Arriving on time, taking initiative, asking questions, and providing feedback on learning are all expected of a mentee. It is important for the mentee to put himself in a position of learning and vulnerability by revealing their needs, strengths and weaknesses.
5. Respect the mentor’s availability and expertise
A mentor volunteers their time. They may not be available from time to time and may not respond as quickly as desired. The mentor may not always have the answers to their questions. It is important to respect changes in plans and unforeseen circumstances.
6. Be honest and authentic
In mentoring, as in any relationship, honesty and authenticity are the keys to a good relationship. As a mentee, it is important to remember that your mentor is not there to judge you, but to listen and support you in your endeavours. To do this, the mentee must be sincere about their needs and intentions.
7. Be open-minded
In order to truly develop professionally and personally, the mentee must be open to feedback, questions, and suggestions from the mentor. Their goal is, above all, to contribute to their success and to the success of the mentoring relationship.
Sources:
8 Habits of a Successful Professional Mentor. Mentoring Complete. (s. d.). https://www.get.mentoringcomplete.com/blog/habits-of-successful-mentor
Houde, R. (2009). Le mentor: transmettre un savoir-être. Hommes et perspectives. Des mentors pour la relève. Presses de l’Université du Québec
HOUDE, R. (1995). Des mentors pour la relève, Montréal, Éditions du Méridien, 253 p.