How can you establish a successful cross-disciplinary mentorship relationship?

1 Identify your goals

Before you seek a cross-disciplinary mentor, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve from the relationship. What skills, knowledge, or insights do you want to gain from your mentor? How will they help you grow as a professional and as a person? How will you measure your progress and success? Having specific and realistic goals will help you find a suitable mentor and communicate your expectations to them.

2 Find a compatible mentor

Finding a cross-disciplinary mentor can be challenging, especially if you don't have many contacts outside your field. You can use various sources to look for potential mentors, such as online platforms, professional associations, alumni networks, or personal referrals. When you approach a potential mentor, be respectful, polite, and concise. Explain why you are interested in their expertise, what your goals are, and what you can offer in return. Look for a mentor who has relevant experience, knowledge, and skills, but also shares your values, interests, and vision.

3 Establish the ground rules

Once you have found a cross-disciplinary mentor who agrees to work with you, you need to establish the ground rules for the relationship. This includes setting the frequency, duration, and mode of communication, defining the roles and responsibilities of each party, agreeing on the objectives and outcomes of the mentoring, and establishing the boundaries and expectations of the relationship. Having a written agreement or contract can help you formalize the ground rules and avoid misunderstandings or conflicts later.

4 Build trust and rapport

A successful cross-disciplinary mentorship relationship depends on trust and rapport between the mentor and the mentee. You need to build a positive and respectful relationship with your mentor, where you can share your challenges, achievements, and feedback openly and honestly. You also need to show your appreciation, gratitude, and recognition for your mentor's time, effort, and guidance. You can build trust and rapport by being punctual, prepared, and proactive in your communication, listening actively and attentively to your mentor, asking relevant and thoughtful questions, and following up on your action items.

5 Learn and apply

The main purpose of cross-disciplinary mentorship is to learn from your mentor and apply what you learn to your own work and career. You need to be curious, flexible, and open-minded when you interact with your mentor, as they may have different ways of thinking, working, and solving problems than you. You also need to be willing to step out of your comfort zone and try new things, experiment with new ideas, and take risks. You need to reflect on your learning, evaluate your progress, and seek feedback from your mentor and others. You also need to demonstrate how you have applied your learning and how it has improved your performance, results, or impact.

6 Review and celebrate

A cross-disciplinary mentorship relationship is not a one-time event, but a continuous process of learning and development. You need to review and celebrate your achievements and challenges regularly, both individually and with your mentor. You need to acknowledge your strengths and areas for improvement, identify your successes and failures, and recognize your growth and potential. You also need to celebrate your milestones and accomplishments, both big and small, and express your gratitude and appreciation to your mentor and others who have supported you. You also need to decide when and how to end or transition the relationship, and how to maintain contact and connection with your mentor.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?