Career Design Lab

5 tips for mentors

Mentor is not meant to be an all-encompassing answer bank. The most important thing is to listen, be present and support.

Foster dialogic interaction
To achieve a fruitful interaction, it is important to be genuinely present, listen and ask questions. In dialogic interaction, it is important to try to understand the other's point of view, but it is not necessary to agree.
Give the actor the main responsibility
In a mentoring relationship, the mentee is the main actor and the process progresses according to his/her goals. You don't have to offer ready-made answers or advice, but support and help the actor to find the right solutions.
Discuss openly
In an equal dialogue, openness and reciprocity is important. By honestly sharing your own experiences, you build trust and develop your own thoughts.
Create a mentor role that looks like you
You can build your own role based on your strengths. A mentor cannot know or control everything. Therefore, it is essential that you are aware of your abilities and possibilities to help the actor. If necessary, guide your actor to seek support from others as well.
Invest time for mentoring
Regular meetings and sticking to the agreed times build trust and deepen the mentoring relationship.

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