Expectations for Mentors and Mentees

The mentee is expected to:

• Guide the relationship by clarifying a problem to be solved, a new direction to plan for, or a goal to achieve.
• Dedicate an appropriate amount of time to the working relationship, and try out some of what is suggested by the mentor.
• Reflect on progress and change and share results with the mentor.
• Continue to develop questions to ask the mentor.

The mentor is expected to:

• Give reasonable time to a mentee to explore what the mentee wants to achieve. Example: two hours a month for six-twelve months.
• Be encouraging and try to help with focus.
• Listen to the mentee and guide with suggestions for options to use in the circumstances presented.
• Draw on expertise and experience that could be useful to the mentee.

Both the mentor and mentee are expected to assess progress toward growth and change approximately three months after starting to work together in order make certain the relationship is mutually beneficial and moving in a positive direction for both participants.

Both mentor and mentee would benefit from reading the short (58 page) book Pay It Forward: Mentoring New Information Professionals by Mary Ann Mavrinac and Kim Stymest.  Easy to read in an hour or two, this book offers great advice for getting the most out of your mentoring relationship.