When you invest your time in being a mentee you will be rewarded with accelerated learning and experiences from your mentor. You will learn from and avoid the mistakes that they may have made, learn about your industry, meet great people, form valuable relationships and be able to mentor someone in your future. If your organisation offers a mentoring program, sign up and get involved. If there isn't a formal mentoring program, suggest one or identify people you would like to learn from and approach them about mentoring you. If you are going to approach someone about being your mentor make sure you present yourself professionally and show your prospective mentor that you are serious and committed by having a mentoring plan in place.
When I chose to become a professional speaker I sought out the most talented Australian speaker I could find. He was accomplished, fantastic presenter, had won many client and industry awards and ran a profitable speaking business. I asked him to mentor me and for 12 months I followed him everywhere. I went to client meetings, sold books for him at the back of the room when he presented, helped him on projects, worked in his office, paid for interstate flights to get uninterrupted discussions during travel time. Spending 12 months with him accelerated my speaking career in an astronomical way, helped me form valuable relationships and also lead to my next exciting career move. I was a dedicated mentee and would do anything to serve and learn.
Have a written agreed guideline. Make an agreement between both parties of the responsibilities and commitments of both parties.
Schedule for 6 months only. This gives you both an agreed timeframe to achieve effective communication and sharing of experience.
Meet monthly. Make a regular time each month for one hour to meet. As the mentee you must fit in with the mentor's schedule.
Set an agenda. Advise your mentor what you would like to discuss, what challenges you have been facing and any questions you may have. To assist you develop this agenda you may like to keep the list on going through the month so you are very prepared for your meeting.
If can't meet in person, book a teleconference. You don't need to meet face to face (especially if your mentor is busy). You should still have an agenda and clear outcomes of what you want from the meeting.
Meet in a location that suits the mentor. Find locations they enjoy being in i.e. the favourite coffee shop, airport lounges or the beach. Make an effort to drive or commute to the location that fits in with their schedule.
Do your homework. Your mentor might give you activities to try or challenges for the next month. Always complete these tasks and report back to your mentor on your success. Don't waste your mentor's time or advice.
Promote your mentor to others. If you know of businesses or opportunities for your mentor, always let others know about their skills, achievements and success.
Thank your mentor with the gift of service. You could assist them with a project, help in their business unit, driving them to an event, and take them to the airport. Being a good mentee is all about serving your mentor to create opportunities to draw from their experience.
Do your homework on your mentor. Find out what they like to listen to, what books they like to read, movies they enjoy, family details. This helps you respond to them and also thank them in ways that are important to them.
Maintain confidentiality. Keep all relevant discussions between you and your mentor private. Never disclose to others your discussions.
Make time. Find opportunities to support your mentor and also debrief conversations. If they are driving for long periods of time, keep them company (either face to face or on the phone), if they are flying interstate for the day, go with them and use the uninterrupted time on the plane to gain wisdom and assistance.
Avoid contacting your mentor outside of agreed times. If you both agree you will meet once a month, save all of your discussions for this monthly meeting. If you need to contact them try SMS messaging or email so you don't interrupt their daily activities.
Try to outdo your mentor. Learn from their experiences, view their templates but always try and develop your own work even better than theirs. If you are successful, you could share your new templates or ideas with them so you can add value to their business by improving on their ideas or systems.
Never ask your mentor "What can I do for you?" Always be creative and find ways to assist them without being asked. Offer to do some data entry in their office, offer to pick them up from the airport instead of them taking a cab, and offer to help recruit staff for their business ? find ways to help them without expecting anything in return.
Neen is a Global Productivity Expert: by looking at how they spend their time and energy ? and where they focus their attention ? Neen helps people to rocket-charge their productivity and performance. A dynamic speaker, author and corporate trainer, Neen demonstrates how boosting your productivity can help you achieve amazing things. With her unique voice, sense of fun and uncommon common-sense, Neen delivers a powerful lesson in productivity. Find out more at http://neenjames.com/
Be conscious, aware, and alert. Pay attention. Remember when you... Read More
If you feel the heat of burn-out, it is possible... Read More
As a Master Certified Relationship Coach, I work with singles... Read More
All of us would love to have personal power ?... Read More
Activities - such as sports, creative projects, reading, work, TV,... Read More
I met my friend when we were in graduate school,... Read More
In this article we would like to help you explore... Read More
In my work with individuals and couples, I see many... Read More
In the movie, "The Gladiator," Emperor Commodus' rose to power... Read More
How often do you hear a parental voice in your... Read More
The "little bit extra" is a very powerful concept to... Read More
Signs of Self-ConfidenceLet's explore the meaning of self-confidence by taking... Read More
As a whole I think there is a sad tendency... Read More
It takes less effort to keep an existing customer than... Read More
Suppose that the human mind is nothing more than a... Read More
"The more I want to get something done, the less... Read More
I think that we're all probably familiar with the fairground... Read More
I don't know why, but it seems we trip over... Read More
Many business coaches deny the power of suggestion while using... Read More
With life coaching becoming "the" career choice in this millennium,... Read More
Jim, a 42-year old engineer was teaching his eight-year-old son... Read More
Life coaching has become fashionable in recent years and there... Read More
In Corrogue the air is chill and the frost is... Read More
Trump University recently unveiled offers a bonanza of success secrets,... Read More
I was talking to one of my coaching clients and... Read More
I thought it might be worth visiting some email etiquette... Read More
OK, so it wasn't quite that big of a deal.... Read More
Do you ever find that when a friend asks for... Read More
Whether it's making a prospecting call to a promising business... Read More
More and more people have less and less time, but... Read More
It is my personal opinion that there are two words... Read More
Often our clients refer someone to us for Executive Coaching... Read More
The surprising answer is "probably". Most individuals don't realize that... Read More
When I was first introduced to the profession of personal... Read More
My name is Greg Ryan. For the last twenty years... Read More
Successful people have always had clear, focused goals that guide... Read More
"The indispensable first step to getting the things you want... Read More
1. Get a life purpose statement.A well thought out life... Read More
Joey rises before dawn to pack his lunch, eager for... Read More
A few weeks ago at a "Leadership from the Ground... Read More
Life is all about choices. And so is the way... Read More
Coaching is a hot trend at a growing number of... Read More
That one guy at work that always has to be... Read More
I am remembering and have a desire to share with... Read More
Perhaps no one better than a former U.S. president has... Read More
Passion is a feeling of excitement and intensity. The energy... Read More
The surprising answer is "probably". Most individuals don't realize that... Read More
When we are ill and don't know it, we are... Read More
We've all been through training events-workshops, seminars, and courses that... Read More
God must love Top Ten lists because she made so... Read More
There is a Buddhist saying that goes like this: "If... Read More
Just before the storms hit last winter, my father-in-law and... Read More
Masterminding is about a group of like-minded, achievement-oriented individuals who... Read More
Taking control of your life is getting in touch with... Read More
Most of us know that assertiveness will get you further... Read More
A coach is an essential figure in providing direction and... Read More
It's a well-known fact that electrons and atoms move at... Read More
1. Pretending You Are Interested When You Are NotDo yourself... Read More
We all need to decide whether to "play it safe"... Read More
I saw a couple for marriage counseling this week, and... Read More
WORDS THAT INSPIREA monthly quick shot to motivate you, in... Read More
I wrote you about four years ago, when my eight... Read More
The promises of THE AMERICAN DREAM (to have it all... Read More
As a coach that specializes in marriage, couples and family... Read More
Ever been in a situation where it seems like minor... Read More
Are you facing a difficult time in your life? Do... Read More
Coaching |