I'd like to be a mentor; how do I know if I'll be any good at it?

How do I know if I'll be a good mentee?

I'd like to be a mentor; how do I know if I'll be any good at it?

Just asking that question is a good start - recognizing your own need for development and support is a key ingredient to a successful mentoring experience. The primary role of a mentor is to act as a guide, sponsor, coach and confidant.

Mentors come from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds and bring a wide range of skills and experiences to their mentoring relationships. Generally, good mentors are thought to have the following qualities:

• Well developed listening and interpersonal skills
  
  
• Ability to use non-judgmental questioning and to relate well with people who want to learn
  
  
• Cares; is genuine and empathetic; has a desire to help and develop mentees
  
  
• Willingness to take necessary time to develop a relationship with mentee
  
  
• Has specific and relevant knowledge
  
  
• Has an open mind, flexible attitude and recognizes own need for support
  
  
• Offers new or different perspectives
  
  
• Is trustworthy and ensures confidentiality
  
  
• Has experience facing challenges, being helped themselves, working with others, achieving success, dealing with failure, being responsible, dealing with stress

How do I know if I'll be a good mentee?

Like mentors, mentees come from a variety of backgrounds and have a variety of needs and expectations. However, it is generally true that in order to have a successful and satisfying mentoring experience, mentees benefit from having the following qualities:

• Is self-aware
  
  
• Is highly motivated
  
  
• Able to articulate expectations and objectives
  
  
• Takes active responsibility for his or her own learning
  
  
• Meets commitments
  
  
• Able to accept feedback and act on it
  
  
• Well developed listening skills
  
  
• Has an open mind and flexible attitude
  
  
• Is trustworthy and ensures confidentiality

Mentees tend to find the most success in mentoring programs when they are able to clearly state their goals and objectives for the process, thereby allowing their mentor to help them work toward those goals. Successful mentees also solicit feedback and find ways to further develop targeted skills between meetings with their mentor.

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