Mentoring 5: Questions to ask each other

As part of mentoring you will need to be able to assess characteristics and guide people to improve upon them. An important part of this is being able to articulate these characteristics (both positive and negative).

This set of questions is provided to help you articulate what you as a mentor aspire towards,

and to be used as a guide for people you are starting (or already are) mentoring.

Note:

The following should be completed by the Mentor and the Mentee.

If you mentor on a regulated basis you can have yours pre-written and get the Mentee to complete their own. It is however recommended to do this together for the Mentor and the Mentee to discuss their goals together to create a shared sense of responsibility and mutual respect.

Part 1.1: Aspirational Characteristics

List three people who you look up to.

For each Person:

List three positive characteristics or personality traits you see in them:

List three negative characteristics or personality traits you see in them:

List three people who you know who look up to you or who you are responsible for:

For each Person:

List three positive characteristics or personality traits you see in them:

List three negative characteristics or personality traits you see in them:

For all the people listed above:

List any shared characteristics:

Note:

For the next section there is no set limit on what you should write down or how much detail you should provide. As a guide it is recommended to write one paragraph (three – five lines) per person.

For the three people you look up to write down why you look up to these people:

For the three people who look up to you write down how they could succeed (In their Careers, or Personal Lives).

For any shared characteristics (positive or negative) explain how they could be used positively.

Part 1.2: Existing Characteristics

List three characteristics about yourself that you think are positive:

List three characteristics about yourself that you think are negative:

Write down how you could use each these characteristics better:

Part 2.1: Goal Setting: Identification

For the next section there is no set limit on what you should write down or how much detail you should provide. It is also important to remember that these goals should be discussed between the Mentor and Mentee. 

List three skills you would like to improve:

Part 2.2: Goal Setting: Discussion

With the following questions please be as vague or specific as you would like. The purpose of these questions are to start a conversation around personal aspirations. If is up to you if you do or do not want to give a time frame for these goals.

Part 2.2.1 Discuss with your Mentor/Mentee and:

List three ‘Major’ accomplishments you would like to complete(e.g. Complete a Degree, get a black belt, learn the guitar):

Provide a short term (six months – one year) goal(s) for the Mentorship.

Provide a medium term (one year – three year) goal(s) for the Mentorship.

Provide a long term (one year – three year) goal(s) for the Mentorship.

Part 2.2.2 Discuss with your Mentor/Mentee and:

Discuss how the positive and negative skills in Part 1.2 can be used to reach your goals

Some conversation starters could be:

I can use my computer skills to help me learn the Guitar by….

I can use my experience as a Parent to help me be a team leader at work…

I can use my skills in Marketing to help a local charity fundraiser…

With your Mentor/Mentee discuss and write down at least 5 activities you could do together to reach these goals