Film-style poster for the Start Well presentation

A guide for mentors A guide for mentors

How to open a workplace mentoring relationship so both of you know where it is going.

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What this guide covers

What makes a good pair

Shared values matter more than background

Similar values and attitudes go with better relationships, far more than similar demographics.

173 Samples, 40,737 people: shared values and attitudes tied to relationship quality, shared demographics much less Eby et al., Psychological Bulletin, 2013

Two first questions

Ask what success looks like

Two open questions show what your mentee values before you offer any advice.

What do you want to be known for at work? Shows their values and direction.
What would make this year a success for you? Becomes your first goal.

A one-page agreement

Put the agreement on one page

Write down goals, rhythm, confidentiality, what is out of scope and how either can end it.

Our mentoring agreementOne page

GoalsTwo, written in our wordsRhythmEvery 3 weeks, 60 minutesConfidentialWhat we say stays hereOut of scopePerformance reviewsMid-point reviewMonth 3EndingEither of us, no blame

Michael C.

Emily P.

A fixed rhythm

Fix the rhythm before the first goal

A set slot every three or four weeks survives busy months better than meeting when free.

Six months togetherEvery 3 weeks

Week 1 Week 4 Week 7 Week 10 Week 13 Week 16

Pre-read, 2 days before Mid-point review Wrap-up

A planned ending

Say from the start it will end

Mentoring moves through phases, and a planned ending keeps the last meetings useful.

Start trust and goals
Growth the main work
Separation a planned ending
Afterwards colleagues, or friends

Doing it on Mentornity

Set it up on Mentornity

Your program already holds the agreement, the meeting titles and the calendar link.

Read the program agreement

You confirm it when you join; Program details keeps it.

Plan the first meeting

Plan it from their profile, or use your program’s session titles.

Connect Teams or Outlook

Busy hours stay hidden and video links create themselves.

Write it into a note

A visible note emails your mentee the agreement you wrote.

Read the program agreement

You confirm it when you join; Program details keeps it.

Plan the first meeting

Plan it from their profile, or use your program’s session titles.

Meetings

3 of 4 meetings done

3Mar Kick-off & expectations Tue · 14:00 · 45 min
10Mar Strengths & skills Tue · 14:00 · 45 min
12Mar Goal setting & career mapping Thu · 14:00 · 45 min Meeting scheduled Schedule a meeting Confirm and book
Networking plan Schedule a meeting

Goal setting & career mapping

Thu, Mar 12 · 14:00–14:45 Join video call

Mentor sees

Mentee sees

Ask about their top three goals and help them pick one for the next 90 days.

Pre-meeting questions

What do you already know about their goals?

Post-meeting questions

Which next step did you agree on?

Bring your top three goals. You will leave with one to focus on for 90 days.

Pre-meeting questions

Which goal do you want to focus on?

Post-meeting questions

How confident are you in your plan?

Connect Teams or Outlook

Busy hours stay hidden and video links create themselves.

Write it into a note

A visible note emails your mentee the agreement you wrote.

Meeting notesEmily P.

Visible noteEmailed to the participants at once Emailed

Agreed: lead the next team update, rehearse on Thursday.

update-outline.pdfUp to 10 files

Hidden noteOnly you and the program admins

1Read the program agreement

2Plan the first meeting

Meetings

3 of 4 meetings done

3Mar Kick-off & expectations Tue · 14:00 · 45 min
10Mar Strengths & skills Tue · 14:00 · 45 min
12Mar Goal setting & career mapping Thu · 14:00 · 45 min Meeting scheduled Schedule a meeting Confirm and book
Networking plan Schedule a meeting

Goal setting & career mapping

Thu, Mar 12 · 14:00–14:45 Join video call

Mentor sees

Mentee sees

Ask about their top three goals and help them pick one for the next 90 days.

Pre-meeting questions

What do you already know about their goals?

Post-meeting questions

Which next step did you agree on?

Bring your top three goals. You will leave with one to focus on for 90 days.

Pre-meeting questions

Which goal do you want to focus on?

Post-meeting questions

How confident are you in your plan?

3Connect Teams or Outlook

4Write it into a note

Meeting notesEmily P.

Visible noteEmailed to the participants at once Emailed

Agreed: lead the next team update, rehearse on Thursday.

update-outline.pdfUp to 10 files

Hidden noteOnly you and the program admins

Book the first meeting this week

Bring the two questions and a blank agreement, and fill it in together.

Sign in to Mentornity Read the guide