We claim that a mentorship can be a life-changing experience – and it’s true. But, as with anything, the more you put into it, the more you’ll get out of it.
The hard-working women in our community know that if you put in the work, the results will come. So, when we launched Mentor Matching, right on cue you asked us how to be good mentors and mentees to ensure you make the most of this life-changing opportunity.
We want mentorships to work as hard as the women in them. That’s why, out of the 170+ Academy courses included in your AllBright Plus membership, we’ve curated a collection of content to help you be the best mentor or mentee you can be.
No one can be the best at something straight away, so let’s take it step-by-step.
1. Understand why
For a deeper understanding of what can be achieved through Mentor Matching, check out Mentors and Coaches. Clare Laurent is an executive coach and author specialising in women’s leadership development. Listen to (and get excited about) what she has to say about the power of mentoring.
2. Nurture the relationship
Getting into a mentorship is just like any other relationship. Sure, you won’t be wining and dining, but the relationship will have its own nuances and needs to be nurtured. In How to Maximise Networks, Coaches and Mentors, journalist and broadcaster Harriet Minter and serial entrepreneur and presenter Emma Sexton share their top tips for making the most of a mentor-mentee relationship.
Top tip: If you’re just here for the mentoring content, skip to 4:39 in the video. But if you have a few extra minutes to spare, it's jam-packed with top tips for networking in general, too.
3. Set clear goals
You can’t score a goal unless you know where you’re shooting. Whether the mentee arrives to her first session with clear goals in mind or wanting her mentor’s guidance in setting them, it’s important for both parties to know how to set clear goals. Delivered by executive coach Helen Hatton, Career Planning covers everything you need to know about setting goals in line with your authentic career vision.
4. Smash your goals
It’s all well and good setting goals but the hard part is making them a reality. If you don’t know where to start, don’t panic, we’ve got you covered. AllBright coach Nick Porter shares her step-by-step guide on defining your goals and creating a framework against which to deliver them in How To Supercharge Your Goals And Connect Them To The Bigger Vision.
5. Be accountable
We don’t know about you but being held accountable by ourselves and our peers really helps us stay on track. In a mentor-mentee relationship, both women can help each other stay accountable. Learn how by listening to professional coach Julie Caruso’s advice on making your goals specific, measurable, relevant, and time-bound in Identifying Your Goals and The SMART-EST Goals.
6. Communicate authentically and effectively
Communication really is key. You could be the CEO of Google or a successful serial entrepreneur, but if your communications skills aren’t on point, your mentoring skills won’t be either. Luckily, Managing Director of La Prairie, Rosi Fernandez, is here to help boost your communication skills in Communicating Authentically and Effectively.
7. Know your strengths
It’s human nature to talk about our weaknesses rather than our strengths. But we all have strengths – and knowing what you bring to the table brings a lot to the mentorship table. In Defining your Strengths and How to Utilise Them, Olympic Gold Medal-winning hockey star Crista Cullen and entrepreneur Catherine Baker discuss the importance of women defining and owning their strengths in order to increase their confidence and progress at work.
8. Be confident
We know – it’s easier said than done. But we all have something to teach one another. Don’t just take it from us. Strategist, board advisor, speaker, and executive coach Gulnar Vaswanican help you stop Imposter Syndrome from rearing its ugly head and holding you back. Pair that with hypnotherapist, mentor, and coach Chloe Brotheridge’s secrets and steps to a more confident you in The Confidence Toolkit and you’ll be itching to share all your knowledge, skills and experience with the sisterhood in no time.
Et voila! You’ve completed your eight-step cheat code to making the most of your mentorship.
If you haven’t already, read our Mentor Matching Ground Rules and A Mentor's Guide to Smashing Your First Mentoring Session.