How do you manage your expectations and boundaries as a mentor or mentee?

In my experience, seeking a good mentorship depends on both parties and their combined expertise. It should be a win-win situation for both parties. As a mentee, I set my expectations based on my mentor’s experience and how successful is he in that particular area. I try to be honest and very open to my goals and how can “we” work on them. On the other hand, building a long lasting relationship with my mentor, so we can discuss things further more our career path. Mentorship is important for both personal and professional development.

It’s absolutely essential that both the mentor and the mentee have clear ideas of what is expected of them and what the goals are. Then, of course, it’s important to frequently check in with each other to see if those. and if there are course directions necessary. The relationship becomes significantly more impactful when all are clear and feel that their needs are being met

One valuable thing I learned from therapy is client-therapist boundaries. The same applies to mentorship. Clear communication is the key. Start with the question what are YOUR boundaries? Can you stay passed the scheduled time with your mentee? Can they text you or message you outside of the sessions? How often do you communicate with them? That's important! Also, respect your mentee's boundaries as well. If they do not like overly involved mentors then do not do that! And the last thing, you're not there to save them. You're there to guide them. And if they do not follow your advice or your guidance it's not on you, it's on THEM.

1. As a mentee, be prepared! Know what you want to talk about, or make it clear if you are struggling and want to brainstorm in an area. 2. Tailor your questions and time to You. Do your research beforehand, so you can get the most out of the time. 3. Be clear on how you want to communicate. Does your mentor want to meet monthly? Quarterly? Ad hoc? Can you email them in between? Set up a general structure and check in periodically to make sure it's working.

Totally agree with that. Setting a clear plan with accurate time frame would help to avoid any procrastination or distractions.

This is an area where ensuring that the accountability for tracking sits with the mentee is important. This helps demonstrate their commitment to their growth. Leveraging a collaborative tool ensures that visibility is there for both parties and helps further drive that accountability.

Consistent feedback is at the heart of effective mentor-mentee relationships. Mentors must establish a mentor-mentee relationship grounded in personal comfort and trust to facilitate honest and open dialogue.