To have a smooth mentorship session, the mentor, as well as the mentee, should know their responsibilities. In most cases, the mentor knows and follows his responsibilities as they come across many aspirants in their day-to-day life. But, a mentee might not know about his/her responsibilities. When the mentor makes themselves available for providing guidance, the mentee should also understand his/her set of responsibilities. Here’s a complete guide for a mentee to understand his/her responsibilities.
As a mentee, you can make the most out of your mentorship sessions with this set of responsibilities.
- Become a good listener
One of the most important responsibilities of being a mentee is to practice active listening. As a mentee, you should always be open to advise on both positive as well as negative aspects. Mentors will praise you for your strengths but they’ll also point out your areas of improvement along with the right resources. But it depends upon your responses to make the most out of your mentorship session.
2. Be consistent
When you’re having a mentorship session, try to show up early. It does not portray your professional behavior but, it also represents your respect towards your mentor. Being consistent will let your mentor know that you’re genuinely interested in improving yourself. He/She will pay more attention to you if you’re willing to gain knowledge and your improvement.
3. Plan your session
Plan your session so that you can get most of your queries solved in a limited amount of time. As the sessions might be of 40–45 minutes, you can prepare the list of your questions accordingly. It’ll help you to understand your priorities better. You’ll be able to differentiate between the immediate needs as well as the long-term needs.
4. Learn and Prepare
You should take out some time to work on the advice given to you by your mentor. Your mentor can guide you but it’s your responsibility to work on those areas which he/she pointed out. The more you learn, the more you can extract out of your mentorship session. If you’ve done the work allotted to you, it’ll leave a positive impact on the mentor. If you can prepare for your next session then, do it as well. A well-organized plan has never failed to amaze people, especially mentors.
5. Discuss your Future
Be clear about your future goals in front of your mentor. It’ll let your mentor know your career plans. Also, it’ll help your mentor track your path and make sure that you’re on the right path. If you discuss your plans then, your mentor will be able to guide you towards it with the necessary skills and tactics.
6. Follow up the Conversations
Try to keep notes about the mentorship sessions. It’ll help you in the next sessions with your mentor. With the help of these notes, you’ll be able to track down your short-term as well as long-term goals. It will also help you to see your progress and plan your further journey. With these notes by your side, you’ll be able to discuss your queries and jot down the important points of the sessions such that you won’t ever forget them.
7. Express your gratitude
Appreciation is a must in every field and so is mentorship. It is a way to show your respect and gratitude towards your mentor. Appreciating your mentor will help you build a healthy and strong relationship with your mentor. Even if you present a formal thank you note to your mentor, he/she will get to know about your gratitude. Your mentor takes out time for you amidst his/her busy schedule and a simple note can make him/her happy.
Mentors can become your light in the darkness. They can help you reach your goal with the right motivation and work ethic. Most importantly, they help you have clarity about your dreams as well as the path leading to them. If you’re having a mentor, don’t forget to show your gratitude to him/her. If you’re considering having a mentor, make sure to fulfill your responsibilities as a mentee.
