Find a Mentor Through Your Networks (Part 4): 13 Tips for a Successful Partnership

You extended an invitation to your ideal mentor. The conversation went well, and they said yes! Now what?

As a mentee, you should lay the groundwork for a beneficial and successful mentorship from the start.

Part 1 of our Find a Mentor Through Your Networks series covered the value of having a mentor, and Part 2 showed you what to consider when choosing yours.

In Part 3, you learned the right way to invite someone. Now you’ll discover how to gain the most from your experience.

Tips for a Successful Mentorship

Take the lead!

Show your mentor you’re serious and dedicated to the journey you have embarked upon. They will appreciate your initiative! Not to mention, this makes it easier for them.

How else can you make it a rewarding partnership?

Here are 13 tips for a successful mentorship experience:

Tip #1: Set Realistic Goals

Be practical and sensible about what you’re looking to achieve.

Don’t set both you and your mentor up to fail. Discuss and determine specific goals that you each agree on and know can be accomplished.

Tip #2: Establish a Plan

Now take those goals and develop strategies that will help you achieve the objectives you’ve set.

Make sure you both clearly understand your responsibilities and how you will work together. Create a plan with deadlines and be accountable for it. There must be collaboration from the start for this to work.

Tip #3: Manage Expectations

Once a plan is in place you must manage what is expected of each of you.

This will ensure you’re always on a productive track. Demonstrate how committed you are to the plan! Put what you learn from your mentor into action and take their suggestions and advice seriously. Setting goals and managing expectations are key for this relationship to work.

Tip #4: Mind Your Time Together

 Show respect and be mindful of all your mentor is giving you, especially their time.

This is a volunteer gig! They’re going out of their way to help you — and doing it all for free — which is priceless. Set up a time to check in weekly, monthly, or quarterly, depending on the situation.

Tip #5: Adhere To Their Schedule

Be flexible and accommodating as a mentee, and your mentor will treat you the same.

Decide if you should talk face-to-face on a Zoom session, over the phone, or if an email will do. Coordinate ahead of time on what is ideal. And if you can’t make a meeting, inform them as soon as possible. Just as you’d want them to do for you.

Tip #6: Structure Your Meetings

Put together an agenda and follow it.

This will make your interactions meaningful and productive. Avoid going off-topic and keep discussions focused. Utilize the concept of the power half-hour to accomplish specific goals during your meetings.

Tip #7: Always Determine Next Steps

Never leave a conversation with your mentor without knowing what each of you should do next.

This keeps you on the right track toward achieving your objectives. And will alleviate any doubts around your expectations. 

Tip #8: Follow Through

You must follow through on what you promised you would do.

If you set a deadline, meet it. If you’re supposed to finish a project, then do it. Not everyone does this! And if you’re not putting in the effort, the mentorship will not succeed.

Tip #9: Be Trustworthy

Prove to your mentor that you can be trusted.

Demonstrate you’re a great mentee by attending meetings on time. Perform the tasks that are asked of you. Show they can depend on you to get things done! And that it’s worth their time to be your mentor. Building trust is the foundation for any relationship, especially in this one.

Tip #10: Be Open-Minded

You wanted a mentor to guide and lead you, let them!

Listen and be present when they offer advice and assistance. Be in the right mindset and ready to take action. Ask questions and display your curiosity. If you’re the type of person who is very set in your ways and won’t deviate from the path, this will present a challenge throughout your mentorship.

Tip #11: Show Appreciation

Remember to say thank you.

Let your mentor know how grateful you are for everything they do. Offer value as often as you can, whenever you can. This relationship is a two-way street! Be an ideal mentee, and you will attract ideal mentors.

Tip #12: Give Feedback

And be honest about it.

Discuss both the high and low points of the mentorship. Make adjustments where needed. You don’t have to say yes to everything! If you disagree, say so. And be prepared to receive the same constructive feedback from your mentor as well.

Tip #13: Understand (And Do Something!) If It’s Not Working Out

It’s OK! We don’t always make the right decisions.

If it’s just not developing into a successful mentorship and really not working out, do something about it. It’s not in the best interest for either of you to move forward in an unhealthy relationship.

Be an ideal mentee, and you will attract ideal mentors.

Remember that your mentor is actually doing you a favor, they’ve already reached success! And it’s up to you to drive the ship along your mentoring journey to get the most from the experience.

Follow these tips as a mentee to efficiently collaborate with your mentor from the beginning. This will keep you both on the right track and lead to a successful mentorship.

Learn How to Be an Ideal Mentee

Are you interested in partnering with a mentor? If you’re changing careers or pursuing a new job role, or starting a small business and seek guidance from a leader in your industry, then you should! And when you truly understand the right way to cultivate relationships, you can be an ideal mentee.

Collaborating with a mentor expands your opportunities. And when you enroll in our certification program and become a NetWorkWise Certified Professional (NWW-CP), you’ll learn how to build and maintain the right relationships to help you develop a successful mentorship.

This course teaches you ways to create connections with people who will guide you in reaching your goals. And once complete, you receive credentials validating you as a networking expert.

Sign up today and get NetWorkWise Certified! You will soon see the rewards of making long-lasting and meaningful relationships that offer mutual value and significant benefits.

This is Part 4 in the NetWorkWise Find a Mentor Through Your Networks series