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Mentors

Desired Mentor Characteristics

  • Willing to dedicate time 

  • Skilled at communication and listening 

  • Skilled at giving and receiving feedback 

  • Can model effective behaviors 

  • Can connect Mentee with other leaders or experts 

  • Can provide opportunities for practice 

  • Sincere interest in Mentee’s development  

  • Focus on the mentee's development and resist the urge to produce a clone 

  • Help the mentee solve his or her own problem, rather than give direction 

  • Develop mutual trust and respect 

  • Maintain confidentiality 

  • Listen both to what is being said and how it is being said  

Tips for Mentors

  • Discuss topics other than your career experience 

  • Recommended topics: Accommodation issues, school experience, client interaction, disclosing a disability, career challenges and milestones, writing for publication, the internship process, networking and so forth. 

  • Set up a routine meeting time 

  • We recommend at least two meetings, 1 hour each meeting for each cycle/month. 

  • Check in periodically 

  • Many mentees are not communicative because they don't know how to ask for help, checking in periodically will help to facilitate trust and demonstrates that you care about your mentee. 

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