Keep Communication Open
If you’re a young adult, it’s important to have someone to look up to, a type of mentor if you will. It’s important to create a plan and goals for yourself and then share them with your mentor. Let them know what you want to achieve for yourself and how they can support you.
If you are someone’s mentor it’s important to make sure your mentee is setting realistic achievable goals. Also, let them know what is a reasonable expectation of you being there for them to lean on.
Offer Support and Define Expectations
A mentor is there for you to lean on when you need it. They are not there to solve all of your problems. They are there to lift you up and motivate you. If your mentor isn’t supportive of your changes, it might be time to rethink who your mentor is. You should also use them as a guide, not as someone who is going to do the work, that has to be done by you.
As a mentor you need to be constantly communicating with your mentee. You need to help them create an achievable plan and then help them set it in motion. The best thing is to create goals together, break them down into steps, and then set reminders on phones and calendars of completion dates.
Maintain Contact
It’s important that you communicate with your mentor. They need to know when you are struggling and when you need help. If you are stuck and don’t know how to proceed and what to do next, you need to let them know that you need their guidance.
As a mentor your job is to make sure that your mentee is progressing. Stay in contact with them and make sure they feel supported and understood. Communicate with them about their progress. Make sure they are on task and ask how you can help them.
Be Honest
If you are struggling, your mentor needs to know. If you aren’t going to meet one of the deadlines you have set up with them, or are struggling to accomplish a goal, let them know. They will most likely have some advice on how you can complete it.
A mentor needs to also be honest in this relationship. Let your mentee know if you are struggling as well, or if you will be unavailable. Be truthful in what you tell them. If you think they are biting off more than can chew or are under-delivering, let them know.
It’s important to be respectful and kind when you speak to each other. And honesty is a sign of respect. Choose your words with care, but tell the truth.
Actively Participate
When your mentor talks to you, listen and absorb what they are trying to tell you. It’s coming from a place of love and most likely experience. Take what they tell you and roll it over in your mind a few times. See if you can shadow them and observe their actions.
Being a mentor to someone is a great time to learn as well. It can be a mutually beneficial relationship. Make sure that you are involved in their lives as well and ask if you can collaborate together on projects.
Be Innovative and Creative
Come up with things that you would like to do with your mentor. Find bonding activities and ways that they can help you achieve your goals.
As a mentor, you as well should come up with activities that you can do with your mentee. It’s important to bond with them and create a mutually trusting relationship.
Get to Know Each Other
You both come from different backgrounds, it’s important to respect where each other has come from and the different experiences and tribulations you have gone through. Take the time to really get to know each other.
Be Reliable and Consistent
If you have a mentor, it’s important that you are consistent in your progress. Be sure that you are updating them and you are communicating with them. If they need to get a hold of you make sure that you are available to them.
The same goes for the mentor. If your mentee needs to call you, make sure that you are available. Be sure that you can be relied on to provide support when they need it. Be consistent in your following up with your mentee.
Stay Positive
Your mentor supports and believes in you. If they offer you advice remember that they are not trying to criticize you, they are offering constructive tips. Don’t feel down if you are struggling to complete goals or don’t make a deadline you have set. Just stay positive and never give up.
The mentor’s job is to be supportive and help your mentee achieve everything they want to and more, so it’s crucial that you stay positive during this relationship.