Your mentorship sessions
1. Prepare for the first meeting
Set the tone & expectations Prepare to introduce yourself, share ambitions, discuss goals, and define what you hope to gain from mentoring. Agree on confidentiality, boundaries, preferred frequency of interaction, and session format
Create an action plan Define both long- and short-term goals and outline topics for future meetings: skills to develop, obstacles to overcome, resources needed
2. Structure your meetings
Meeting cadence Schedule recurring sessions in advance and run the course over 3–4 months. Add all sessions to both your calendar and your mentor’s calendar for accountability. Our experience shows that meeting twice per month works very well.
3. Take ownership
Be proactive Initiate contact when needed, reschedule if necessary, and drive meeting agendas. Your engagement is vital to success
Reflect & adapt Regularly reassess your objectives and revise plans as your journey evolves. Your mentor can provide insight, but your direction matters most
4. Track progress & feedback
Self-evaluation After each session, log what worked, challenges uncovered, skills developed, and next steps.
Share feedback Reflect with your mentor periodically about how the relationship is progressing, what's helpful, and any changes needed in schedule or approach
5. Tips & best practices
Build rapport early: use ice-breakers and share personal aspirations to strengthen the connection.
Use resources: leverage session agenda guides, planning templates, articles, and tools provided by your programme platform
Clarify boundaries: set topics or areas off-limits (e.g. job evaluations, personal advice).
Think long term: mentoring relationships often last around 3-4 months; commit to continuity and follow-through
✅ Mentee quick‑start checklist
Initial meeting
Clarify goals, expectations, and logistics (meeting frequency, format)
Action plan
Define specific topics and outcomes for first few sessions
Schedule
Book recurring monthly meetings and invite mentor
Meeting prep
Review and adjust agenda; bring questions and updates
Post-meeting
Summarize learnings and agreed actions
Mid-point review
Check alignment, adjust goals if needed
Ongoing steps
Stay proactive, track progress, give feedback, revisit action plan periodically
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