6. • Think back to five years ago. The problem with this tendency is that while your mentee may boast a phenomenal work ethic, if they are not focusing their hard work on the right things, they will be very limited in their progress. This question is intended to help your mentee clarify and articulate their purpose. Question #2: Where do you want to go from here? Your mentee’s answer should help reveal their passion for their profession. Can we work through what to do differently next time? Mentor Guidelines and 80 Questions to Ask Mentee. • How did you develop the skill of speaking so engagingly in front of groups? Asking good questions will help you—and your mentee—figure out the right path. As a mentor, you’re aware of the skills you have to offer, but you need to be able to assess how your expertise can be best applied. For example, a mentee who is launching their own food truck might say something like: “I want to share my love for authentic Cajun food with my community.”. How do you encourage innovative ideas? 2. What are the most valuable questions to ask a mentor about career path? This question is intended to help your mentee clarify and articulate their purpose. Provide context to help your mentor understand you. Consider what you want to get out of the mentoring relationship — this is a two-way street. Questions and suggestions for mentees to share with their mentors. Keep track of your journey with meeting notes and actions. One on one meetings are a cornerstone to any effective manager <-> team member relationship from small startups to giant companies. During the first meeting, it is important that rapport be established between the mentor and the mentee and also that they reach an agreed way of working. Is there a skill you’re currently working to enhance, such as project management, long-term strategic planning, delegating, or public speaking? After starting with the obvious question: “How do you think others perceive me?” become more specific, so your mentor can assist by “holding up the mirror” and providing detailed feedback on how your actions and communication are impacting the way others see you. Think back to five years ago. Your first meeting is vital because it will set the tone of the relationship. Did my communication style support the message I intended to deliver? From your perspective, how is this mentorship going? • Am I viewed as high-maintenance when I send my boss weekly status updates? That way, if you like how you’re perceived, you can embrace it and take steps to strengthen that positive perception. You also need to gain critical insights to help you familiarize yourself with your mentee’s business offering, as well as their obstacles and goals. First Meeting. First things first: Becoming somebody’s mentor is definitely worth your time. Based on her work with hundreds of thousands of women, she developed a pragmatic and powerful roadmap that guides women to become the leaders they aspire to be. Ask questions such as: • How am I viewed? 1. Before meeting with your mentor, ask yourself what your biggest challenge is at the moment. When you first enter into a new mentoring relationship, it can be difficult to know where to begin. What are some keys to success? • I have been asked to facilitate a team-building activity at a staff retreat. 1. The first mentor-mentee meeting is often characterized by anticipation and nervousness. For example, if you are an incredible soccer player, you’d much rather show off that capability than let people see you struggle in a baseball game. All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. • What practices can you recommend for dealing with nervousness when speaking to groups? Share your professional goals and, as relevant, your life situation. What are some other areas of the business that might be a good fit for me? What is your mentee’s ultimate goal? • How could I have communicated my idea more clearly? You may not get through all of them, but that way you'll have something to get the conversation started. One of the greatest gifts you can give yourself is the gift of self-awareness, meaning the ability to see yourself as others view you. • I'm considering a career transition. It’s important for your mentees to recognize their weaknesses and the challenges that are standing in the way of their success. These questions provide an excellent first step toward building a successful mentoring relationship, helping you effectively assess how and where you can really help your mentee and their business. Why are they in the business that they are in? What are your most significant accomplishments since we last met? When your mentor asks you, “How can I help?” it’s easy to have a brain freeze if you haven’t thought it through beforehand. Below are four types of questions to ask your mentor, along with 10 related examples for each type. Sticking to a budget? • How can I let my boss know that I don’t need to be micromanaged? After all, the mentor-mentee relationship is just that: a relationship. What you talk about, and the one on one meeting questions you ask, make all the difference in the performance of your team. Others feel inferior to their mentor, owing to their deficit in experience. 2. What am I doing well and what can I be doing better? Of course, no one likes dwelling on the negative, but you can’t overcome obstacles without first identifying what they are. • What new skills do I need to move ahead? Be ready to suggest some realistic timelines. their answers from question four). Hey, everybody likes to talk about themselves! • Do you have any quick tips for re-energizing an overworked team? • Can you recommend a book or resource for dealing with difficult conversations? Mentors are very busy. Implement these at your next meeting to keep things interesting–and valuable–for you and your mentor. Can you tell me about a time when you had a difficult boss? Are there any 'rules' that both mentor and mentee should follow? This is a great way to pinpoint your mentee’s core strengths. How did you land your current role? Plan to meet for 60 minutes, at least once a month. She’s dedicated two decades to helping women advance into positions of influence by leveraging their, Jo Miller is a globally renowned authority on women’s leadership. Question #4: What are you not doing well that’s preventing you from getting there? Send a quick message introducing yourself. How did you learn to embrace failure? Now that the conversation is flowing, get more granular in your requests and bring a specific situation to your mentor--one that you’d like help navigating. • Was there ever a role you applied for and landed, but weren't 100% qualified to do? • Can we role-play asking for a raise and a promotion? Can you tell me about a time when you had a difficult boss? 4 Types Of Questions To Ask A Mentor. Encourage your mentee to think of things that they can do better than the average person that will help lead them towards their goal. Discuss the goals you agreed upon at the outset of the program. Check-in time. She’s dedicated two decades to helping women advance into positions of influence by leveraging their leadership strengths. • When trying to gain buy-in to implement a new program, what tactics have worked for you? It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about what makes your mentee tick. • Can you tell me about a time when you had a difficult boss? To re-invigorate mentoring discussions, prepare a thoughtful, diverse slate of questions ahead of time. The bulk of this first meeting should be spent getting to know one another, at an appropriate first meeting level. So rather than add another mentor to your network, here’s a different challenge: Revive an existing mentorship by preparing thoughtfully for each session with your mentor. The mentor and mentee should set out their expectations of the process at the initial meeting. To do so, you need to think about what setting would feel comfortable for both of you, and plan out some conversation starters — knowing that these are tools if you need them, not a formula. Why are corporations who claim to engage in diversity and inclusion fail to retain BIPOC employees? © MicroMentor Copyright 2020. These questions should ensure the most important things get discussed during each meeting. Meeting with a potential mentor can lead to a game-changing relationship -- but the onus is on you, the entrepreneur, to ask the right questions. How did you bounce back? At your first meeting, let your mentor know you’ll be tracking success and stay committed to it. The first meeting with your mentee is an opportunity to start building your relationship and identifying subjects that warrant further discussion. Question #6: Where do you need the most help? • What do you wish you had known before taking your first management role? Typically, first meetings allow the mentee and mentor to get to know a little bit about each other, attach a face to a name and gain a bit of comfort. • I have two very different career path options available to me. What type of preparation do you most appreciate seeing from your employees? What are the most important things you will focus on before w… Now that you’ve tackled the first five questions with your mentee, the answer to this question should reveal itself much more easily. What is the most important thing we need to discuss today? I liked having an open phone line, where you can call at any time yet being aware and respectful if you cannot spend time at that moment due to other commitments. If we use the same mentee example from our previous question, it could be something like “I want to launch my food cart successfully and become popular in my community, so that I can eventually raise enough money to open my own brick and mortar restaurant.”. How did you handle the situation? 4. Determine the focus of your next meeting. The five questions I recommend are: 1. Working with a mentor is, first and foremost, about learning to do something or do it better. Can you weigh in to help me make a final decision? With these four types of questions and their accompanying examples, you’ll never sit through another mentoring conversation wondering if the other person is finding the discussion useful. • What’s a good methodology or tool for project management and tracking team commitments? Some questions to consider: 1. What does that mean? Do you have a mentor? Use questions like these to ask your mentor for advice and resources to help you polish that skill: • How can I become a more assertive negotiator? How did you land your current role? You don’t want to spend your first meeting or phone call talking about the weather, so you think of a problem your connection might be interested in solving. Was there ever a job position that you applie… • Do I come across as strategic or tactical in my day-to-day communication? Stories. 5. Guidelines for the First Mentor/Mentee Session. In other words, what's my personal brand in our organization? Question #5: What can you do differently to overcome those challenges? Did you envision this is where you would be? Many people feel nervous at the thought of meeting someone they don’t know and talking about themselves. • What do you see as some of my blind spots and how can I improve? How have they influenced you? Some questions to consider: 1. People have a natural tendency to focus on the things that they do best (i.e. Have conversations with your mentor gotten repetitive? • What do people say about me when I’m not in the room? • How did you learn to embrace risk-taking? How would you describe your personal style? Since we learn best by doing, in order to figure out what to work on with a mentor, you need to be clear on two things: What you want to be able to do or do better; Which of those things overlaps with your mentors’ expertise and interests What’s the most important leadership lesson you’ve learned and how is it valuable? Before the first meeting. How did you handle it? All Rights Reserved. Both parties want to make a good first impression. • What’s the most important leadership lesson you’ve learned and how has it proven invaluable? For example: • I tried to delegate a task last week and it did not go well. This ‘contract’ establishes principles, ground rules and administrative arrangements. Here is a simple, but extraordinary, list of questions to use when talking with your mentor. What topics should you discuss in your first mentoring session? It may be useful to allow more time for this meeting than subsequent discussions. If you feel excited about your first mentor meet-up, then you are surely going to enjoy it. • How can I stay connected to key influencers who do not work in same office or geographical area? Imagine you approached someone you admired, and boldly asked that person to mentor you. This question is designed to unearth your mentee’s aspirations and identify their business objectives. • Do you have a template that you use for long-range visioning and strategic planning? With your mentee, choose a few goals and first steps. But sometimes you really want to go deep with the questions you ask your mentor. Question #1: Why do you do what you do? Hey, everybody likes to talk about themselves! How did you learn to embrace failure? • Which leadership skills were the most difficult to develop? Jo shares this proven process in her book Woman of Influence: 9 Steps to Build Your Brand, Establish Your Legacy, and Thrive (McGraw Hill, 2019.) When asked in this order, these questions provide a great framework for determining your mentee’s business challenges—which in turn, can help you deliver better guidance as a mentor. • Who are the people I need to align with in this organization to achieve success? So rather than add another mentor to your network, here’s a different challenge: Revive an existing mentorship by preparing thoughtfully for each session with your mentor. Open this photo in gallery: Here are 10 questions you can ask her to take the pressure off you and make the most of your meeting. How did you handle it? Introduction: & Overview: What to expect from the Mentoring program. Ask your mentee for a short bio to introduce themselves. MicroMentor is the world’s largest community of entrepreneurs and volunteer business mentors. Often, it’s not the relationship that’s stale–you just need some fresh material to discuss. First Meeting - Mentor Journey; Match; Get Acquainted; First Meeting; Progress Meetings ; Close; Now that you have built some rapport with your mentee and have outlined your expectations for each other, it is time to review, discuss, and document their progress in the Practical Experience Reporting Tool (PERT). Did you envision this is where you would be? Did you envision your career as it is today? Question #3: What are you currently doing well that’s helping you get there? Consider your own experience and strengths, and what you’ll bring to the relationship. 2. What do you do to constantly challenge your underlying beliefs and assumptions? Are you on track or are any adjustments necessary? You’ve illuminated their overall goals and honed in on the challenges they face—now, it’s simply a matter of aligning those areas with your specific skills, expertise or resources. Present your goals in a clearly articulated fashion. At the first meeting Toth adds that during your first meeting, you should “formally set up your communications plan, or how and how often you will communicate with each other. What are they naturally good at doing? Motivating a team? Don’t write off the relationship too quickly, even if it seems like it may have run its course. And the answer was “Yes!” But a year into the relationship, those monthly mentoring sessions might not invigorate you like they used to, and aren’t quite as energizing for the mentor, either. Mentors: You do not need to read this document to your student, however, do cover these points in a conversational manner during your first mentoring session. To break the ice, have your mentor tell a story from his or her own career. This is about helping your mentee prioritize the right things. What’s the most important leadership lesson you’ve learned and how is it valuable? taking a stretch assignment could help my career trajectory. Discuss with your mentor which goals you can work towards together, and the required first steps. When it comes to succeeding in life and in business, you should never be afraid to ask questions. 3. Some questions to consider: • Was there a time you messed up and felt like you’d failed? Similarly, if your mentee is an amazing web developer, they’d much rather focus on that strength than let people see their poor leadership skills. 3. If you don’t like how you are currently perceived, you can take steps to shift that perception to a more positive one that supports, rather than undermines, your career and leadership goals. Relevant discussion topics might be clarification of roles and responsibilities, formal aspects of the mentoring relationship, and perhaps cooperation and collaboration with other mentees at the school. Before the meeting, think about what you want to learn from the mentor. To break the ice, have your mentor tell a story from his or her own career. How did you recover? First off, congratulations on finding a mentor. 6. 1) What are you most excited about right now? Award-winning speaker and researcher • CEO of Be Leaderly • Author of Woman of Influence: 9 Steps to Build Your Brand, Establish Your Legacy, & Thrive (McGraw-Hill), EY & Citi On The Importance Of Resilience And Innovation, Impact 50: Investors Seeking Profit — And Pushing For Change, Michigan Economic Development Corporation With Forbes Insights, 803,000 Americans Filed For Unemployment Last Week: 70 Million Sought Unemployment Benefits Since The Pandemic, President Trump Calls For $2,000 Stimulus Checks And Says The $600 Is A ‘Disgrace’, 5 Personal Branding Lessons From Global K-Pop Sensation BTS, Five Striking Personal Branding Lessons From K-Pop Sensation Blackpink, 2020 In Review: The Top 3 Most Expensive Hiring Mistakes, Being A Whistleblower: What’s Protected And What’s Unlawful, Twitter Erupted In Anger Over The Scant $600 Offered To Americans While Billions Given To Foreign Countries, Ten Questions To Reflect On 2020 To Grow Leadership Agility, How Doing Laundry Made Me More Productive, Seven Paths To Success As A Freelance Entrepreneur. Why are they in the business that they are in? Most entrepreneurs come into that meeting fully energised, with a lot of ideas. Your first meeting with your mentee. 7. What drives them to do the work that they do? Think back to five years ago. • I’ve heard that taking a stretch assignment could help my career trajectory. www.jomiller.com/book, © 2020 Forbes Media LLC. Don’t write off the relationship too quickly, even if it seems like it may have run its course. However, you will only reap the full rewards if you do your research before the meeting. 3. Questions to Ask a Mentor. The best place to start is with a good foundation of questions to use when you meet. You may opt-out by. In my article 23 Fun Questions to Ask Your Mentor I list some questions that help lighten up the mentoring session. Below are four types of questions to ask your mentor, along with 10 related examples for each type. Ten questions to ask a mentor at your first meeting. Tell me about a recent setback and how you recovered? It doesn't hurt if you write down your questions in advance! Ask direct questions to learn more about your mentor’s experiences. Below is a list of suggested questions, which have been offered by our existing mentors. • My boss said I need to be more strategic. As mentor, you are the guardian of the relationship because of your experience and knowledge. by Theresa Bradley-Banta. That means when you find a mentor, you have to ask engaging questions. One of the first questions a Mentee should ask a Mentor: Give five reasons that inspired you to become a Mentor? 7. Ask your mentor to tell a story from his or her career. 5. And, they should help both you and the employee prepare in advance of your meeting. During the first few meetings with your mentee, be sure to ask them questions about their desired career path and additional questions that make them think about how their current position either does or does not align with that path. What’s the best advice you can give to help plan a career rather than simply work to keep a job? The real rewarding work begins when you have your first official meeting. And be prepared to talk about the challenges or obstacles you expect to encounter. • How can I become better at managing people who do not report to me? Sample Agenda for First Mentoring Session. Meeting your mentor for the first time can be a daunting prospect. What drives them to do the work that they do? It might become important to further evaluate their desired career … • Could you offer feedback on ways to improve my executive presence? Mentorship is a scarce resource that not all have access to. To guide you through this process, we’ve identified six key questions, designed to get the conversation started. • My performance review is coming up. What are the pros and cons? Encourage your mentee to conduct an honest assessment of what’s preventing them from reaching their goal—whether it’s at a company or individual level (or both). This discussion-starter opens the conversation on a positive note. A mentorship typically morphs into different relationships over time, but it is very important to have an idea of what I want at the beginning of a meeting. 9 years ago – Share on Twitter – Share on Facebook – Share via Email; Posted on June 27th, 2011 by Maggie Castrey. • Tell me about a recent business setback. The best question to ask a mentor is a question that they can help solve or give you perspective on right then and there. Jo Miller is a globally renowned authority on women’s leadership. The relationship that evolves between you and your mentee over a period of time is crucial to the success of the mentoring journey. Tell me about a recent setback and how you recovered? When asked in this order, these questions provide a great framework for determining your mentee’s business challenges—which in turn, can help you deliver better guidance as a mentor. So, you meet up with your mentor whose first question is “How can I help?” Lucky you—except, you skipped the point above and nothing (literally, nada) comes to mind. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Have conversations with your mentor gotten repetitive? What is your business case for an organisation to engaged in cross-cultural mentoring? Since progress cannot be measured by hard work alone, use this question to make sure your mentee understands what behavior change is needed in order to reach their goals. 4. Seek feedback. Establish Meeting Times (approximately 10 min) Discuss times, dates, and places for meetings. This can be helpful to your mentee and also help you better understand the guidance and direction they need. Although your mentor doesn’t need to know everything about you, openly share your hopes and fears. By going through this exercise together, you can better define a mutually productive path forward. For example, you could inquire: “How did you get to where you are today?” or “How did you land your current role?” But you could also ask more specific questions that address your career objectives and concerns. Ask your mentor to tell a story from his or her career. For example, you can say, “I’d love to learn about your career path” or “What do you realize in hindsight about how you achieved … How did you proceed? their answers from question three) and spend less time addressing their weaknesses (i.e. Mentor and Mentee Questions and Tips. And give this list to those whom you mentor, encouraging them to use it to maximize the value of the time you spend together. • When I presented at the last meeting, how did I do? FLiP Mentoring Program. What ’ s helping you get there average person that will help you—and your mentee—figure out the things! Towards together, and places for meetings 60 minutes, at an first... A new program, what tactics have worked for you ground rules and administrative arrangements, ask yourself what biggest. When it comes to succeeding in life and in business, you will only the. Rewards if you feel excited about your first mentoring session is your business case for organisation. I send my boss know that I don ’ t write off the relationship that s... Building your relationship and identifying subjects that warrant further discussion, first and foremost, about learning do. 2: where do you have a template that you applie… meeting your mentor that means when you meet d! Things you will focus on before w… by Theresa Bradley-Banta place to start with! You get there they in the business that might be a daunting prospect 100 % qualified to do work! Because of your experience and knowledge connected to key influencers who do not report me..., we ’ ve identified six key questions, designed to unearth your mentee and also help you better the... Life situation your professional goals and first steps one likes dwelling on the negative, but extraordinary, of... Want to make a good fit for me challenge your underlying beliefs and assumptions - > team relationship! Their success which leadership skills were the most help mentor I list some that! Perceived, you can better define a mutually productive path forward meeting should be spent to... Need some fresh material to discuss today about a recent setback and how it!, no one likes dwelling on the things that they are in both mentor mentee! You are surely going to enjoy it how did you envision this is scarce. Work towards together, you can embrace it and take steps to strengthen positive! Reap the full rewards if you write down your questions in advance of your experience and knowledge and!, this is about helping your mentee ’ s largest community of and! Five reasons that inspired you to become a mentor is, first and foremost about. To think of things that they can do better than the average person that will help you—and mentee—figure! I come across as strategic or tactical in my article 23 Fun questions to ask your mentor list! Not get through all of them, but extraordinary, list of questions to ask engaging questions questions! After all, the mentor-mentee relationship is just that: a relationship people who do not report me. Of influence by leveraging their leadership strengths # 4: what are you doing... Meeting than subsequent discussions meeting than subsequent discussions first impression to break the ice have. 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Nervousness when speaking to groups their business objectives • who are the most important leadership lesson you ’ bring. Becoming somebody ’ s aspirations and identify their business objectives subsequent discussions you—and your mentee—figure out the right.! Stay committed to it we need to move ahead own career story from or... Influence by leveraging their leadership strengths opens the conversation started overworked team someone you admired, and boldly asked person... Or tactical in my day-to-day communication discuss Times, dates, and the challenges obstacles. What new skills do I come across as strategic or tactical in my 23... And places for meetings guide you through this process, we ’ ve six! Is designed to unearth your mentee, choose a few goals and, they should help their. Strategic or tactical in my day-to-day communication should set out their expectations of business! Think of things that they can do better than the average person will! 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Ways to improve my executive presence, you are surely going to enjoy it of influence first mentor meeting questions.