Tips for Mentors

• Make a special effort to be available to your mentee at least once every two months,away from the distractions of your work, if at all possible
• Interact and share – share your mistakes and struggles, as well as your successes
• Share up-front with your mentee your specific expectations for the relationship
• Invest time in learning about the aspiration, attributes and preferences of your mentee, the better you know your mentee the more detailed guidance you can provide
• Periodically identify special learning opportunities in your organization or in professional networks for your mentee
• Actively assist the mentee in developing his/her own personal network of professional contacts
• Honour any commitments to and confidences of your mentee
• Periodically validate your student the value of the information and counsel you are providing
• Provide honest, caring, regular, and diplomatic feedback to your mentee
• Listen deeply and ask powerful questions
• Maintain and respect privacy, honesty and integrity
• Accept that the relationship is temporary, but be alert for the possibility that it may exceed for a longer time frame, this should be a mutual agreement as to how you wish to proceed
• Believe in your ability to mentor
• Make a list – preparing for your first meeting make a list of things that you would have wanted to know when you were in the position of the student you will be mentoring. List should include information about yourself (as the mentor) about the organization you work for and your position there, expectations concerning the mentor-mentee relationship
• Take the Initiative to make the first call
• Be clear about purpose and boundaries
• Create an agenda e.g. 1. Getting to know each other, 2. Logistics, 3. Goals and
  expectations, 4. Concerns that might interfere with meeting again, 5. Initial impressions, 6. Questions to ask student, 7. Why you think you can be a worthy mentor etc

Tips for Mentees

• Contact your mentor initially via e-mail or telephone
• Plan a face-to-face meeting with your mentor as soon as possible, you can keep in contact via email, this is perfectly acceptable, although it would be good to have some face-to-face contact occasionally, as time permits
• Initiate meeting with mentor at least once a month
• Take responsibility for structuring a preliminary list of what is discussed at those meetings
• At the beginning of the relationship, communicate clearly and negotiate with your
  mentor your goals for your time together
• Invest time in learning about the mentor’s organization and professional roles and responsibilities
• Honour any commitments made to the mentor and respect the basic privacy and confidentiality inherent in the communication that occurs within the relationship.
• Actively request information and counsel from the mentor on a periodic basis and communicate with the mentor as to how the advance or information might have been used
• Accept that the relationship is temporary, but be alert for the possibility that it may exceed for a longer time frame, this should be a mutual agreement as to how you wish to proceed
• Express your appreciation for the mentor’s time, information, counsel, and sharing of opportunities with you
• Invite your mentor to a campus event or activity or meet at your mentor’s job site
• Plan your contacts with your mentor around your academic schedule
• Take advantage of mid-term breaks, lunch breaks and other windows of opportunity
• Be punctual and prepared. Don’t prevail upon your mentors for special privileges which include not attending or leaving early
• Dress appropriately for all meetings with mentors
• Enter relationship with a positive attitude – believe in achievement and have confidence in yourself

(http://www.usyd.edu.au/riap/documents/wiisa/WIISAMentorshipProgram_002.pdf