How to Create the Foundation for a Trusting Relationship

Mentors play a vital role in guiding their mentees, and asking insightful questions is key to fostering meaningful conversations. While providing guidance and sharing experiences is important, mentors should also challenge their mentees to encourage deeper reflection and new perspectives. Utilize the following questions to structure your discussions, facilitating mutual understanding and establishing expectations and goals.

Questions to Understand Their Background:

1. What is your educational and professional background, including your current role and tenure with the organization?

2. What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

3. What are your short-term and long-term career goals?

4. What hobbies or interests do you pursue outside of work?

Questions to Gauge Your Mentee's Expectations:

1. How do you envision my role as your mentor?

2. What ground rules should we establish, such as confidentiality and openness?

3. Are there any topics that you prefer not to discuss, such as performance reviews or personal matters?

4. What challenges do you anticipate in our mentorship relationship?

5. Are there any pressing topics you'd like to address?

6. What specific areas would you like to focus on in our conversations?

7. What do you hope to achieve through our mentoring relationship?

8. How would you prefer to communicate between our meetings?

9. What times are most convenient for you to meet?

These questions serve as a valuable framework for exploring your mentoring dynamic and identifying areas for growth and development.

QUESTION 1 OF 1

These questions aim to foster deeper conversations between mentors and mentees and identify areas for mentee improvement.

Choose the most appropriate answer.

A. True

B. False