mentoring relationships<\/a>, it\u2019s hard to underestimate the value of really getting to know one another. That\u2019s not to say you and your Mentee will become lifelong friends, but that it always helps to know about their long-term aspirations.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFor example, they may have come to you so that you can help them secure the same job role you\u2019re currently working in, but is that the job they really dream of? Perhaps they see this role as a stepping stone to some further ambition? Knowing that further ambition will help you offer honest and clear advice about how they can best tailor their career progression to a long-term approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Analysis of Current Career<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you want to know where you\u2019re going it\u2019s important to look at where you\u2019ve come from. Asking about a Mentee\u2019s current career history can tell you so much about who they are and how they work. After all, there\u2019s a reason that previous roles are one of the most important parts of a CV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That being said, it\u2019s important to come to their career history from a non-judgemental mindset while still providing realistic advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What does that mean in practice?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re a CEO\/former CEO and your Mentee comes to you hoping to one day occupy that role, then that\u2019s a great aspiration on their part. All the same, it\u2019s also quite an ambitious task for anyone to start out on, even with advice from an expert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If they\u2019ve got years of experience in various managerial\/executive roles then they might reasonably be on a path to achieve that with some well-targeted guidance. If they\u2019re twenty-one and their only work experience is flipping burgers then it\u2019s going to take some more work. That\u2019s not to say they can\u2019t<\/em> become a CEO – only that it\u2019s going to be a longer and more challenging road for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhen building mentor relationships, it\u2019s important that you\u2019re both on the same page about these things so that together you can set reasonable, achievable goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Assessing Drawbacks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
With all the good will in the world, it\u2019s worth noting that there may be times when your Mentee has serious drawbacks that could get between them and their chosen career role. A Mentee seeking to become an accountant, for example, is going to really struggle if they\u2019re the kind of person who\u2019s afraid to do difficult maths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once again, this isn\u2019t an insurmountable problem, but it is a real and meaningful issue that your Mentee will have to work through sooner rather than later. Understanding these drawbacks helps Mentors to bring structure, aligning goals in a meaningful order. Put simply, if your Mentee doesn\u2019t have the skills to do the job yet then all the networking in the world won\u2019t help them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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