1. Creating Psychological Safety 

You both play a role in creating an environment where opinions, ideas, experiences and feelings are valid and easily shared - without embarrassment, rejection or penalty for speaking up. 

Creating psychological safety within your mentorship relationship means showing up as your true self - creating an inviting space for conversation and being aware of unconscious bias and microaggressions.

Leading with empathy and celebrating your collective differences will set a solid foundation for your sessions. Through mutual respect, confidentiality and trust, you’ll be building key skills both professionally and personally to help you reach your potential. 

2. Practice, Practice, Practice

At 10KC we encourage you to reflect on each session and find opportunities to implement your learnings and put them into action! As you practice your new skills, discuss the outcomes in your next session - and watch as your skills grow.

3. Constructive Feedback

Be specific and solution-oriented, and most importantly - lead with empathy. Everyone comes from different backgrounds which guides their thought process and perceptions. Be mindful and respectful, and learn from each other.

4. Mentee-Led Sessions

As a mentor, it might be tempting to lead the conversation and guide the mentee, but the most effective relationships are mentee-led. As a mentor, help the mentee learn their role, and offer advice and direction as they build confidence.

5. Active Listening

Stay engaged in your sessions! Pay attention, use non-verbal cues, and most importantly avoid judgment. Try to embrace thoughtful questioning - and if you’re in doubt, ask! Using open-ended questions and creating a safe space can deepen conversations and raise awareness. 

6. Setting Goals

Think about your goals! You might not know what the next steps in your career could be, but start thinking about habits and skills you can build to get you where you want to go. 

If you’re feeling stuck, check out 10KC’s Goals and Habits worksheet to get you started.

7. Staying Focused

We live in a world of distractions - but make sure you prioritize this time! Come prepared, keep your video on if you’re meeting virtually, and stay focused on your conversation.

8. Preparation & Outreach

As a mentee, it’s your job to research your Mentor, make initial contact and prep for each session so you can keep the conversation flowing! 

For Mentors - it’s the same thing! Research your mentee, reach out if you haven’t heard from them, and think of examples from your work life that relate to topics from your sessions to help guide the conversation.