Summer Mentoring Meetings: Time for a Break or an Opportunity?

Author: Catherine Légaré, Président-cofounder, Elo Mentoring

Summer often comes with a deep breath, a slower pace, and a shift in routines. In many workplace mentoring programs, this season is seen as a natural pause — “Let’s reconnect in the fall.”

But is that pause always necessary, or even helpful?

As a mentoring expert, I’ve supported hundreds of mentor-mentee pairs. And I’ve seen this time and again: even a light or informal summer meeting can create surprising impact. Not because it’s productive, but because it brings a different rhythm. A different posture. And often, deeper reflection.

What Our Community Says

Before writing this article, we asked our LinkedIn community:

Do you encourage mentoring pairs to meet during the summer?

• ✅ Yes, absolutely – 30%

• 🟰 It’s up to the pair – 70%

• ❌ No, summer is for pausing mentoring – 0%

A clear result: nobody rejected the idea of summer mentoring. Most prefer to leave the decision to the pair… as long as we make space for it and offer suggestions.

Why Keep Mentoring Alive During the Summer?

Workplace mentoring often mirrors the rhythms of business cycles. But summer brings a unique context:

• More flexible or relaxed schedules

• Less day-to-day urgency

• A different relationship to time

• A chance to slow down — without stopping

It’s the perfect time for a less structured conversation, one that feels more human and spontaneous. It doesn’t have to follow the usual playbook. And sometimes, that’s exactly what makes it valuable.

☀️ Summer Mentoring Topics Worth Exploring

Here are a few ideas I often share with mentoring pairs, and that I’ve experienced myself. Simple, accessible topics that help people reconnect, reflect, or even have fun together.

1. Mid-Year Check-In

• What’s changed or grown for me since January?
• What surprised me?
• What would I like to leave behind?

No need for a performance report — just a personal pause.

2. Share a Book or Podcast

One mentee of mine loved Atomic Habits to rethink her daily routines. Another, an entrepreneur, found The First Mile helpful when debating her next move.
Whether work-related or not, a summer read or podcast can spark meaningful conversations

3. Rest and Recharge — Beyond Vacation Plans

• What actually helps me recharge?
• What does rest look like for me — and what does it reveal?
• What do I want to protect or bring back in the fall?

Sometimes, a walk or even an ice cream break leads to the most authentic exchanges.

4. Name One Challenge for the Fall

Without pressure, simply set an intention:

• What do I want to try, stretch, or experiment with?

• What would feel like a good kind of challenge?

Naming it now plants a seed for later.

5. Get Outside the Usual Setting

A mentoring meeting doesn’t have to happen at a desk.

• Go for a walk,

• Visit an exhibit,

• Share a simple outdoor experience, then reflect together.
  It’s amazing what changes when you shift the setting.

For Mentoring Program Leads

Should you actively promote summer meetings?

Not necessarily. But you can open the door:

• Send a light summer message with conversation ideas;

• Encourage flexibility in format and tone;

• Let participants know that even one informal meeting can make a difference.

No need for documentation or formal structure. Just a reminder that mentoring can happen outside the usual rules.