What are the roles of a mentor and a mentee?

Are you a new mentor, mentee or even a mentoring program manager? To help you immerse yourself more easily in your mentoring experience, Elo‘s mentoring expert, Camille Detouillon, provides an overview of the key roles and responsibilities of a mentor and mentee.

Indeed, mentors can play several roles. They help the mentee to have an external view of certain situations and acts impartially. They listen carefully and help the mentee think of new solutions. They can put the mentee’s problems into perspective and motivate them to take action. 

By contacting a mentor, the mentee puts himself in a vulnerable position. At the time of contact, a mentor should be welcoming, caring and open in order to put the mentee at ease and create a good atmosphere. This helps establish a solid bond of trust for the rest of the mentoring relationship.

When necessary, the mentor can provide suggestions on a specific issue. However, it is important to remember to leave the mentee in control of his or her own choices and decisions. Asking open-ended questions (simple and succinct) and inviting the mentee to reflect on the situation and the actions he or she wishes to take is an interesting technique. 

Ex: Starting your questions using the words what, how or with phrases like Please tell me more about XYZ *

Being a mentor also means acting as a sponsor for a mentee. This includes supporting them through various challenges. Agility is the key to success, even more so in the context of a pandemic where the mentee is faced with many unusual challenges.

Not everyone progresses at the same speed. Being a mentor also means being patient and listening to your mentee. It means motivating and encouraging them. To encourage the mentee’s progression, recommend that he or she set S.M.A.R.T. goals from the start of the mentoring relationship. It will be interesting to get the mentee to reflect on the progress he or she has made since the beginning of the mentoring relationship by referring to these objectives.

Proposing exercises, challenges and mini-missions adapted to the mentee’s current needs and skills is an interesting avenue. The mentor’s role is to remain supportive if necessary. In this way, the mentee remains in control of their learning. By doing this and recognizing their progress/success, mentees move forward and get closer to their goals.

Feedback allows the mentee to identify areas for improvement and helps him or her progress in his or her professional life. It is therefore important for the mentor to give honest and impartial feedback.

Sometimes a mentee may seem preoccupied, stressed or anxious. Indeed, in times of pandemic, it is not uncommon to experience some psychological distress and to be affected professionally. The latest studies show that isolation and telecommuting are sources of discouragement and loss of motivation. It is therefore important to listen to your mentee and demonstrate empathy. It may sometimes be necessary to postpone the session or adapt the agenda to the mentee’s new needs. Finally, know how to refer when the situation is outside your field of competence.

The mentee needs to be reassured about his or her skills. It is important to help them develop confidence in their abilities. To do this, the mentor should value the mentee’s learning and support his or her personal and professional development.

Did you know that mentees are 5 times more likely to be promoted? Mentoring allows mentees to develop skills and strategies to achieve their career goals. The benefits of mentoring for mentees are numerous. However, finding yourself in the position of mentee often comes with its own set of questions. Here are the roles and responsibilities of mentees.

On the Elo mentoring platform, it is the mentee who has to take the first step in choosing and contacting a mentor who matches his or her expectations. After all, the mentee knows his or her needs best.

As a mentee, it is therefore important to prepare your needs and goals in advance so that you can share them with your mentor. Without this, it will be more difficult for the mentee to explain the reason for entering into a mentoring relationship.

Before each meeting, the mentee’s role is to plan an agenda, identify his or her objectives and communicate them to the mentor in advance. A well-prepared meeting leads to better results. By being prepared in advance, both the mentor and the mentee save time. The mentee has a better chance of reaching his or her goals (quickly). The exchanges will be more interesting, relevant and fruitful.

Arriving on time, taking initiative, asking questions, and providing feedback on learning are all expected of a mentee. It is important for the mentee to put himself in a position of learning and vulnerability by revealing his needs, strengths and weaknesses.

A mentor volunteers their time. They may not be available from time to time and may not respond as quickly as desired. The mentor may not always have the answers to their questions. It is important to respect changes in plans and unforeseen circumstances.

In mentoring, as in any relationship, honesty and authenticity are the keys to a good relationship. As a mentee, it is important to remember that your mentor is not there to judge you, but to listen and support you in your endeavours. To do this, the mentee must be sincere about his or her needs and intentions.

In order to truly develop professionally and personally, the mentee must be open to feedback, questions, and suggestions from the mentor. Their goal is, above all, to contribute to their success and to the success of the mentoring relationship.

Interested in launching a virtual mentoring program? Discover Elo, the turnkey mentoring platform that makes it easy for organizations to launch and manage a mentoring program. With over 20 years of experience in the mentoring world, our experts are here to help you every step of the way. In addition, program coordinators, mentors and mentees benefit from personalized coaching.