| When you invest your time in being a mentee you will | | | | they enjoy being in i.e. the favourite coffee shop, |
| be rewarded with accelerated learning and | | | | airport lounges or the beach. Make an effort to drive |
| experiences from your mentor. You will learn from and | | | | or commute to the location that fits in with their |
| avoid the mistakes that they may have made, learn | | | | schedule. |
| about your industry, meet great people, form valuable | | | | Do your homework. Your mentor might give you |
| relationships and be able to mentor someone in your | | | | activities to try or challenges for the next month. |
| future. If your organisation offers a mentoring program, | | | | Always complete these tasks and report back to your |
| sign up and get involved. If there isn't a formal | | | | mentor on your success. Don't waste your mentor's |
| mentoring program, suggest one or identify people you | | | | time or advice. |
| would like to learn from and approach them about | | | | Promote your mentor to others. If you know of |
| mentoring you. If you are going to approach someone | | | | businesses or opportunities for your mentor, always let |
| about being your mentor make sure you present | | | | others know about their skills, achievements and |
| yourself professionally and show your prospective | | | | success. |
| mentor that you are serious and committed by having | | | | Thank your mentor with the gift of service. You could |
| a mentoring plan in place. | | | | assist them with a project, help in their business unit, |
| When I chose to become a professional speaker I | | | | driving them to an event, and take them to the airport. |
| sought out the most talented Australian speaker I could | | | | Being a good mentee is all about serving your mentor |
| find. He was accomplished, fantastic presenter, had | | | | to create opportunities to draw from their experience. |
| won many client and industry awards and ran a | | | | Do your homework on your mentor. Find out what |
| profitable speaking business. I asked him to mentor me | | | | they like to listen to, what books they like to read, |
| and for 12 months I followed him everywhere. I went | | | | movies they enjoy, family details. This helps you |
| to client meetings, sold books for him at the back of | | | | respond to them and also thank them in ways that are |
| the room when he presented, helped him on projects, | | | | important to them. |
| worked in his office, paid for interstate flights to get | | | | Maintain confidentiality. Keep all relevant discussions |
| uninterrupted discussions during travel time. Spending 12 | | | | between you and your mentor private. Never disclose |
| months with him accelerated my speaking career in an | | | | to others your discussions. |
| astronomical way, helped me form valuable | | | | Make time. Find opportunities to support your mentor |
| relationships and also lead to my next exciting career | | | | and also debrief conversations. If they are driving for |
| move. I was a dedicated mentee and would do | | | | long periods of time, keep them company (either face |
| anything to serve and learn. | | | | to face or on the phone), if they are flying interstate |
| Have a written agreed guideline. Make an agreement | | | | for the day, go with them and use the uninterrupted |
| between both parties of the responsibilities and | | | | time on the plane to gain wisdom and assistance. |
| commitments of both parties. | | | | Avoid contacting your mentor outside of agreed times. |
| Schedule for 6 months only. This gives you both an | | | | If you both agree you will meet once a month, save all |
| agreed timeframe to achieve effective communication | | | | of your discussions for this monthly meeting. If you |
| and sharing of experience. | | | | need to contact them try SMS messaging or email so |
| Meet monthly. Make a regular time each month for | | | | you don't interrupt their daily activities. |
| one hour to meet. As the mentee you must fit in with | | | | Try to outdo your mentor. Learn from their |
| the mentor's schedule. | | | | experiences, view their templates but always try and |
| Set an agenda. Advise your mentor what you would | | | | develop your own work even better than theirs. If you |
| like to discuss, what challenges you have been facing | | | | are successful, you could share your new templates |
| and any questions you may have. To assist you | | | | or ideas with them so you can add value to their |
| develop this agenda you may like to keep the list on | | | | business by improving on their ideas or systems. |
| going through the month so you are very prepared for | | | | Never ask your mentor "What can I do for you?" |
| your meeting. | | | | Always be creative and find ways to assist them |
| If can't meet in person, book a teleconference. You | | | | without being asked. Offer to do some data entry in |
| don't need to meet face to face (especially if your | | | | their office, offer to pick them up from the airport |
| mentor is busy). You should still have an agenda and | | | | instead of them taking a cab, and offer to help recruit |
| clear outcomes of what you want from the meeting. | | | | staff for their business - find ways to help them |
| Meet in a location that suits the mentor. Find locations | | | | without expecting anything in return. |