Mentoring Matters
Mentoring is the reciprocal and collaborative relationship between a mentor and a mentee that typically involves personal growth and career advice. Mentoring is an important aspect of a leader's development. Mentoring Matters is a leadership initiative designed to walk student leaders through what a mentor is, how to find a mentor, how to be a mentee, and for those students that are student mentors through on-campus or off-campus programs how to be a good mentor. Student Leadership Development recognizes how important mentoring is and we try to deliver some helpful resources and learning activities to help promote healthy mentoring on campus.
What is a Mentor?
A Mentor is "an experienced person who advises and helps somebody with less experience over a period of time" - Oxford Dictionary
- This does not mean that the mentor has to be 'wiser' or 'older' than the mentee but, a mentor can actually be a peer or someone else in a similar job position that can offer a different point of view. The whole idea of mentorship is to learn from someone and learn new perspectives, knowledge, and insights to make us better leaders.
- You can also have multiple mentors
What is the role of the Mentor?
The role of a mentor varies based upon the agreed relationship between the mentor and mentee. But the basis of mentorship is to help give advice, new perspectives, and learning opportunities to make you a better leader. The best part about this relationship is that it's a two-way street. Meaning you, the mentee will be learning from your mentor but also your mentor will be learning from you.
General roles of the mentor: how this relationship is defined is up to the mentor and mentee
- Helps the mentee establish goals for the mentoring relationship and personal/professional goals
- Provides constructive feedback
- Advocates and advises the mentee
Mentor Resources:
- YouTube: "How to set smart goals as a mentor" | Lisa Fain
What is a Mentee?
A mentee is someone "who is advised and helped by a more experienced person over a period of time" - Oxford Dictionary
What is the role of a Mentee?
The main responsibility of the mentee is to drive and take ownership of the mentoring relationship to establish the goals they want to achieve, learning objectives, skills, or whatever else they want to accomplish from the relationship. Your mentor will be there to help advise, encourage, and challenge you to reach your goals.
General roles of the Mentee:
- Prepare a list of goals and expectations of the mentoring relationship
- Be prepared to receive feedback and be open to new learning experiences
Mentee Resources:
- Article: "10 Quick Ideas for becoming a More Effective Mentee" | Shana Campbell and Ryan MacTaggart
- YouTube: "No One is Talking to the Mentee" | Victoria Black
How do I find a Mentor?
Finding a mentor doesn't have to be hard. Finding one is about doing some personal reflection on what you want from the relationship, doing some research on the person, and making the ask to your potential mentor(s) to be your mentor(s).
Finding a Mentor Resources:
- NPR Article and Podcast: "The Right Mentor Can Change Your Career. Here's How to Find One" | Anjuli Sastry Krbechek & Abdee Tagle
- YouTube: "How To Find A Mentor: 6 Unexpected Secrets To Connect With The Best" | Marie Forleo
- Harvard Business Review Article: "What's the Right Way to Find a Mentor?" | Janet T. Phan
- YouTube: "Mentoring Month Week 1 Webinar: How to Find The Right Mentor For You" | Lisa Fain
Other Mentoring Resources:
- Greater Than Yourself: The Ultimate Lesson of True Leadership, by: Steve Farber (You can check out this book from the SLD Library found in the SLD front Office)
- The Michelle Obama Podcast: "Working Women: Valerie Jarrett and the Importance of Mentorship"
- Printable Thank You Note: Thanking our mentors is an important aspect of the mentoring relationship. This is a printable thank you note that you can print out and give to your mentor.
