Mentor Learning Outcomes

1 – Build and support effective relationships:

Actively creates supportive, intentional relationship based on mutual trust, respect, and accountability that creates a safe space for the mentee to work towards personal learning goals. Willingly discloses personal stories and lessons learned through experience. Seeks out opportunities for intentional conversations that support the growth of the mentee. Role models expected behavior for effective relationships.

Strategies:

  • Share your story – be willing to disclose your past and current experiences and future goals
  • Maintain confidentiality – build trust by honoring others’ stories as your own
  • Seek opportunities for intentional conversations – understand your mentee’s goals and create learning moments to support his or her progress
  • Role model behavior – do what you say you will do, show up, be punctual, be present, practice active listening

2 – Provide objective guidance and feedback based on personal experience:

Facilitate mentee’s ability to create and work towards specific learning goals by providing objective feedback and guidance on goals and action steps, sharing lessons from personal experience, and serving as a connector to people and resources.

Strategies:

  • Be mentee-focused – develop relationship around mentee’s specific learning goals
  • Provide objective feedback – focus on concrete actions and behavior in order to support mentee growth and development
  • Share personal experience – openly disclose past and current experiences, successes, challenges, and lessons learned
  • Be a connector – connect mentee to people and resources that support his or her progress towards goals

3 – Facilitate reflective thinking:

Pushes mentee to reflect on experiences by asking thoughtful, thought-provoking questions that seek deeper meaning and help the mentee to become more self-aware of strengths and growth opportunities. Seeks out opportunities for intentional conversations that support the growth of the mentee.

Strategies:

  • Ask thought-provoking questions – ask open-ended questions that support mentee learning
  • Ask reflective questions – routinely ask mentee to reflect on what he or she is learning from actions and experiences
  • Provide objective feedback – focus on concrete actions and behavior in order to support mentee growth and development
  • Seek opportunities for intentional conversations – understand your mentee’s goals and create learning moments to support his or her progress

4 – Take ownership for own personal growth and learning:

Serve as a role model for personal growth and learning by employing practices of goal-setting, seeking feedback, and reflection for one’s own development during the mentoring relationship.

Strategies:

  • Create SMART goals – write 2-3 developmental goals to achieve during the relationship using the SMART goal framework
  • Identify action steps – write 2-3 concrete action steps for each goal statement
  • Share progress – regularly share progress towards goals and ask for feedback on next steps
  • Reflect and re-set – periodically reflect on progress and lessons learned in order to set new goals

Take the Mentor Beginning/Mid-Year Self-Evaluation and the Mentor End-of-Relationship Self-Evaluation to determine your progress towards developing these key skills.

© 2015 Wake Forest University Mentoring Resource Center