Be a great mentor

So you're interested in being a mentor? Great! Whether you become a mentor because you want to give back, learn and tap into a great network, or simply because you were asked, being a mentor is an incredibly rewarding experience for you - as well as your mentee.

How to be a great mentor: Your advice could change a life

Help set mentee goals: Use the Mentorloop goal-setting framework to help ensure goals are practical and useful

Listen patiently: Get a clear view of your mentee's aspirations

Share experience & give advice: Even if you are not an 'expert', and outside perspective makes all the difference

Recommend tasks & resources: Use the Mentorloop task setter or chat screen to recommend tools, events, podcasts and blogs

Be available & responsive: Check your Mentorloop portal or communication channel often; maintain regular contact

Respect confidentiality: Ensure what happens in mentoring stays in mentoring - unless otherwise agreed upon

Encourage independence: You are setting the stage for intrinsic and ongoing growth

Inspire confidence: Inspire your mentee to tackle more challenging goals and milestones

Getting started with your mentee? Ask them these five questions

1. What is it that you really want to be and do?

2. What are you doing really well that is helping you get there?

3. What are you not doing well that is preventing you from getting there?

4. What will you do differently tomorrow to meet those challenges?

5. How can I help / where do you need the most help

Be sure to actively listen to your mentee and avoid making quick assumptions. The best mentoring relationships are built on trust and openness.

Keeping in touch with your mentoring counterpart

There are several ways you and your mentee can keep in touch once you've established your mentoring relationship:

• Login to the Mentorloop portal and use the loop chat functionality. Send messages, images, videos or set tasks. Loops are private and can only be seen by those included in the loop.
• Catch-up face-to-face, either in person if you both live in the same area, or digitally through systems like facetime, video chat or skype.
• Speak on the phone or email, if you and your mentee have exchanged personal details. This can be a good way of touching base easily on topics that come up in your day-to-day activities

It's a good idea to talk with your mentee about how often and which ways you both wish to keep in touch. However you keep in touch, making sure you have regular conversations with your mentee is the best way to ensure they get the most value out of their mentorship.