Mentoring is a powerful way to learn new skills to advance your career. At 10KC, we make mentoring easy by providing conversation guides and curated topics for each session on the skills you need to succeed.
Most importantly, it's important to understand your role and responsibilities to get the most out of the experience. Here are 10KC's Top Tips tips for success:
1. Creating Psychological Safety
You all 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. |
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. |
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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.
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4. Mentee-Led Sessions
As a mentor, it might be tempting to lead the conversation and guide the mentees, but the most effective relationships are mentee-led. As a mentor, help the mentees learn their roles, and offer advice and direction as they build confidence. |
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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. |
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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, reach out to your mentor if you haven't heard from them and prep for each session so you can keep the conversation flowing!
For Mentors - it's similar! Research your mentees, make initial contact with your mentees, and think of examples from your work life that relate to topics from your sessions to help guide the conversation. |
Mentoring is an important driver of career advancement - and with these tips, we know you’ll create not only a successful mentoring relationship but skills that will travel with you throughout your career. |
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