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A guide for mentors: Session Brief for Mentors

How to send the Session Brief, read the answers and talk them through.

English

What this guide covers

What this guide covers

What this guide covers

What it is

One question, sent before the session

Your mentee writes where the venture is, three numbers and the one question for you.

When to send it

Send it before a short session

It helps most when time is short and the topic is still open.

  • A first meeting before you know the venture
  • A one-off slot when you meet only once
  • Before each session so every meeting starts on the question

An honest frame

A habit, not a tested method

Programs like Founder Institute ask for this; the brief itself was not tested.

  • Their question you can still suggest a sharper one
  • Short is fine a few sentences each
  • Numbers in their words no fixed set of metrics

Sending it

Send it from your pairing

It takes a minute, and your mentee gets an email.

Open your pairing

Choose Assign a tool and find the Session Brief.

Try it as your mentee

Fill it in yourself first; nothing is saved or sent.

Say when you meet

Ask for the brief a day before the session.

Open your pairing

Choose Assign a tool and find the Session Brief.

Try it as your mentee

Fill it in yourself first; nothing is saved or sent.

Say when you meet

Ask for the brief a day before the session.

Reading the answers

Read the question before the numbers

The question says what the session is for; the rest is context.

  • The question one question, small enough for the time
  • What they tried so you do not suggest it again
  • The help they want feedback, a decision, an introduction

Questions to ask

Test the question first

People who ask follow-up questions are liked more (Huang and others, 2017).

  • Is this the most important question right now? then: what would you ask instead?
  • What would a good answer let you do this week? then: what stops you today?
  • Who else should hear this question? then: may I introduce you?

Feedback that helps

Answer the question they brought

Feedback can backfire, so keep it on the venture and the question.

1 in 3 Over a third of feedback effects lowered performance in one large review Kluger and DeNisi, 1996

One step

End with one step this week

Plans in the form "if this happens, then I do that" help people act.

94 Tests found that if-then plans help people reach their goals Gollwitzer and Sheeran, 2006

After the meeting

Keep it all on Mentornity

The brief, your comments and the next steps stay in one place.

Read it at a glance

The question and the stage are shown at the top.

Add next steps

Write what will be done, by whom and by when.

Ask to fill it again

Before the next session, a new brief keeps the old one.

Read it at a glance

The question and the stage are shown at the top.

Add next steps

Write what will be done, by whom and by when.

Ask to fill it again

Before the next session, a new brief keeps the old one.

Ask for a brief this week

Before your next short session, send the brief and read it the day before.

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