In the last article, I shared some tips on how to choose mentors wisely (You should read it HERE if you haven’t). Mentorship goes beyond just starting and choosing mentors, it also requires you to “Become an astute mentee”.
The Astute Mentee is one who is clever, sharp, knows what he/she wants and goes for it. It takes deliberate steps to grow as a mentee and I would share my TOP 9 tips on getting the best out of your mentorship by becoming the mentee every mentor wants.
Be Prepared
You need to understand that Mentors are busy people and have day-to-day timelines to meet up with. The level of productivity in most meetings lies on how prepared you are for that meeting and that determines if your time is well spent or not. Being prepared entails;
- Being eager to learn — Be enthusiastic
- Having a positive attitude towards the meetings
- Being committed to the mentor-mentee relationship — getting to the meeting on time is part of commitment too!
- Pay full attention during meetings
Write Down your Vision!
For you to get what you want and need, you need to know what they are. This means setting goals — the long and short-term goals. Knowing your goals would help you streamline yourself towards them and would also help your mentor lead you better.
It is OK to not have a clear vision of your long-term goals when you start the mentorship, so set out your short term goals and as time passes by, you would be more knowledgeable to set the long-term ones
Be Patient
Rome was not built in a day! Your Mentor didn’t get to where they are in a day!Your career can’t be built in a day!
Growth is a process that requires hard work, practice, perseverance, smart thinking and patience. Be patient and work hard. Hard work pays off in the long run.
Be Open to Feedback
It hurts when you spend so much time on a project just to get critical comments after. Honest and critical feedback give you an opportunity to improve yourself and help you move towards fulfilling your potential. There is no point having a mentor if you are not willing to improve.
Also, If you aren’t comfortable with the means by which your mentor delivers feedback, notify them (For example: you may prefer direct criticism, not so direct criticism or criticism with humor).
Embrace Soft Skills
Listening and Communication skills are ESSENTIAL. You should listen attentively during meetings and communicate clearly to your mentor. This way, you learn more and they understand you better. To create positive relations with mentors, mentees should be able to effectively express themselves.
Learning how to work in a team is also a great attitude to get better.
Ask Questions
Be Curious and ask thoughtful questions. This would help your mentor relate better with you. Be eager to learn and improve. DON’T BE SHY!
Embrace Time Management
You create a good impression on your mentor when you always keep to time — in attending meetings, in submitting projects/ assignments, or even in running errands. Time management is an ESSENTIAL skill for everyone. Learn to manage your time well so as not to disappoint.
If you would be late for any reason, inform your mentor on time. You need to be accountable at every point in time.
Be Open to New Experiences
Be ready to take up new tasks. There’s no harm in expanding your horizon. When given a task you are not familiar with, make research, ask others for help and GIVE IT A SHOT. No knowledge is waste and you never can tell when you’d need that skill in future.
Respect Authority
Respect the experience, wisdom and authority of your mentor. Respect your mentor’s time and process.
In Conclusion
Every Mentor wants a mentee who puts their heart into what they do. Be committed and add value to the relationship. All I’m saying is BE WORTH THE TIME!
