Formal Relationships

In your first formal mentoring meeting, revisit the mentoring request. Take a look at what the Mentee would like to achieve and their goals. This discussion will help to shape the relationship and provide both parties with clarity on what you would like to achieve together.

Now, you are ready to start discussing how this relationship may look. The Mentee will fill out the mentoring agreement based on your discussion. Once they click on save, you will be able to see the mentoring agreement in your documents section.

Here are the items that the Mentee will discuss with you to set the mentoring relationships expectations:

Meeting formats: How would you like to meet? Would you like to have meetings in-person, over the phone, video conferencing, email or live text chat? It could also be a combination of formats.

Frequency of meetings: Would you like to meet every week, biweekly or monthly?

Length of relationship: How long are both of you willing to commit to this relationship? Some formal relationships can be as short as one month or as long as one year. You should also discuss a plan if you or the Mentee would like to end the relationship earlier than anticipated.

Availability: What days and times typically work for each of you to meet?

Length of meetings: Will your meetings be 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes or 60 minutes in length?

Cancellations: What is the best way to notify each other in case a meeting needs to be postponed?

Agendas: Will the Mentee submit an agenda prior to the meeting? If you agree on sending the agenda in advance, the mentor may want to provide their input as well. The agenda can include updates, specific discussion topic(s), action items and setting the next meeting date and format.

Confidentiality: Discuss how confidential information will be handled.