The Mentee

One of the hallmark characteristics of a good mentee is that they are self directed and responsible for their own growth and development.  In their mentor they seek a trustworthy and reliable guide in a specific domain, and through collaboration, establish a ‘mentor-mentee’ relationship. Mentees build trust and respect with their mentors on an ongoing basis through their actions.  In addition, a good mentee:

• Willingly and actively engages in a mentoring process that focuses on their own development, but also respects the needs and boundaries of their mentor.
• Openly discusses their needs and the areas they wish to develop.
• Collaborates with their mentor to build a foundation of trust and mutual respect.
• Respects and honours confidentiality within the relationship.
• Establishes their own goals and develops plans to achieve them.
• Consults with their mentor on their goals and plans to achieve them.
• Is willing to engage in communication that :
• Uses active listening.
• Probes and asks the mentor relevant questions that enhances mutual understanding.
• Accepts and reflects on the feedback they receive from their mentor, even if it is tough and critical (analytical) feedback.
• Is responsible for making their own decisions and accepting the subsequent consequences.
• Is honest with their mentor.

A good mentor is often a sounding board, the wise person to talk things over with before making big decisions. However, they are not the decision-makers! A good mentor will challenge the mentee and help him or her with the inquiry and investigation of a problem, but the decision and the consequences of the decision always rest with the mentee. This is a critical element of the developmental process that fosters the independence of the mentee. In short, a good mentor won’t tell you what to do, but they will question what you are doing and why you are doing it.