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Mentoring Tips
Be honest with your mentee. Follow through with your promises and admit when you are wrong.
Be consistent in your communications and appointments with your mentee. A phone call or email is a great way to stay in touch when traveling or if schedules become busy.
Be patient in expecting your mentee to trust you and open up to you. Trust takes time. Many youth have been disappointed and abandoned by family they have trusted. Taking the risk to open up takes time but is well worth the wait.
Be helpful so that they can learn to do things for themselves. Don’t be the one that solves their problems, let them do it. Don’t think for them; let them think for themselves.
Be careful not to be overwhelmed with multiple problems. Help your mentee deal with one problem at a time.
Be prepared for setbacks and disappointments. Your mentee may not have ever had a relationship with someone who will stick with them no matter what happens.
Be a good listener. Listen to how your mentee feels and thinks. Learn from him/her about their world. Give advice when asked.
Be aware of your mentee’s strengths and weaknesses. Emphasize your mentee’s strengths and help them be successful. Emphasize weaknesses in order to help them grow.
Have fun. Don’t be afraid to laugh and enjoy your time with your mentee.
