How to Be a Model Mentee
So, you’ve found a mentor who meshes with your personal philosophy and ambitions. Great! Now, the hard part: making the most of your mentor meetings.
If you’ve never met with your mentor before, that first meeting can be daunting. “How does this work? What do I say?”
Although each mentor/mentee relationship is different, there are a few unspoken rules that will help you make the most of the time you spend with your mentor.
1. Come prepared.
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” ― Benjamin Franklin
Some people are amazing conversationalists. They seem to know just what to say to keep the ball in the air. Other people struggle with ever getting it off the ground.
Unfortunately, there are common pitfalls that everyone faces when meeting with a mentor for the first time. I’ve met people who can talk for hours but struggle to keep on topic, and I’ve met people who are filled with questions but don’t know how to ask. Either way, learning to use your limited time wisely is a skill you’ll need to learn, and the key to learning is preparation.
