As a mentor you decide about the flow and the nature of a meeting with a mentee. This checklists could help to decide about your way of hosting this meeting.
Casual meeting
- helps to relax
- stimulates spontaneity: evening out, break on a workday
- taking a walk in the park or in the forest can help re-frame a difficult situation.
Formal meeting
- brings order to chaos and creates discipline
- addresses the other person "professionally"
Become a Host
- little things make a person feel welcome
- a slice of cake or a bowl of fruit
- a history or joke
Your Questions
- Which topics are relevant for you?
- What might be the other persons feelings or expectations?
- What are your goals for the meeting?
- What outcome or behavior will signal to you that you have reached your goal(s)?
- What are your mentee’s goals?
- How much time do you have?
- How should the meeting be structured?
- How can you structure the meeting methodologically?
- How can you determine the outcome?
The Beginning
- Focus on mood, less on content. Observe what is happening at the moment.
Progress and Development
- Briefly summarize what you have understood to be the project’s progress and development.
- Don’t forget to mention positive developments: Concentrate on solutions and not on descriptions of problems.
Concrete Points
- Address specific points that were identified as challenging at the last meeting. Focus on the solution, not on the problem.
Support and your role
- Ask how you can support the team/mentee best.
- Consider what might be necessary, adequate, and possible for you?
- Make your availability very clear.
- Encourage your mentee to communicate with you actively.
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Related:
Mentoring Handbook
Nils-Eyk Zimmermann
Providing Systemic Support for Mentees and Their Projects
MitOst editions, Berlin 2012, Online