10 Questions to Ask Your Mentor
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Share this article on Google+ You’re about to meet with your mentor for the first time. What will the two of you talk about?
Mentors and mentees agree on at least one point: the experience of working together as part of a dyad is a mutually rewarding and enriching one, where they learn from each other’s experience. The mentor’s role is to act as a guide throughout this process, allowing the mentee to see a situation in a new light. This pretty much sums up the goal of the mentoring relationship.
But what is the key to getting the dyad off to a good start? Because the better the fit from the outset, the better the chances of success over the longer run.
1. Tell me a little about yourself
Who is this entrepreneur I’m sitting down with? What’s your story? How did you get to where you are today? Where did you grow up, go to school? What are your passions and interests outside of work? Do you have a family — a partner, children? What do they do? Why did you go into business? Why did you choose the field you work in? People like to talk about their business, but they often hold back when it comes to discussing more personal topics. And yet, these are precisely the kinds of issues that will help you gauge their personal values and who they are as a human being. You may have much more in common than you think: perhaps you went to the same school, are both parents, hail from the same area, have travelled to similar destinations, or share a love of a specific sport, film genre or type of literature.
2. What do you enjoy most and least about being in business?
When you’re a business owner, you often have to learn how to do things you don’t have a natural affinity or talent for. You may be called upon to step outside your comfort zone and engage in an activity you dislike or feel unqualified to do. As you talk about this with your mentor, you’re sure to find common ground — more than you might think. Ask them how they deal with situations like these.
3. What are some of the worst mistakes you’ve ever made?
Every business owner has had to pick themselves up and brush themselves off at one time or another. It’s part of the role, and part of the process. But you inevitably learn from each and every one of these missteps. It might surprise you, but successful entrepreneurs actually enjoy talking about the mistakes they’ve made along the way and how the experience has helped them grow. And their response will speak volumes about their sense of humility and creativity.
4. What are you the proudest of?
The answer may be one you don’t expect. The go-to reply is usually their children. But someone else may bring up personal challenges they have overcome, the fact that they have created jobs for a struggling community, or their sense of accomplishment in making a childhood dream come true. Their answer gives them a chance to shine and they will appreciate being asked.
5. Why are you a mentor?
Most mentors do it out of the goodness of their heart. Volunteering their time and expertise makes them feel like they are making a contribution. But they are also interested in learning from the experience and connecting with fellow entrepreneurs. They take an enormous amount of pride in their mentees’ success. By asking them about their motivations in becoming a mentor, you’re bound to learn more about their values and what about you and your business they find interesting.
6. What do you hope to gain from mentoring me?
In other words: why did you pick me? Curiosity is something that drives most mentors. They’ll want to know about your line of business and what makes you tick. Tell them about yourself and your company. Share things you might not tell anyone else. Avoid tooting your own horn, though: that can be off-putting and drive a wedge between you.
7. I’m dealing with this or that problem. Can you help me work it out?
A good mentor will dig deeper into questions like these. They will start by encouraging you to take a step back and look at your business from a solutions-oriented standpoint. They will also reframe the discussion to focus it on you and any particular aspects where you may have lack clarity.
8. Who should I talk to?
It all depends on the problem, challenge and goal at hand, but an entrepreneur’s journey is inevitably an obstacle race. Many problems require a specific type of expertise. Your mentor may offer up some of their contacts: suppliers, industry associations, specialized information, connections to places that are otherwise off limits… A mentor can help you broaden your network and increase your sphere of influence.
9. How do see our relationship moving forward?
Some mentors have extremely busy schedules but nevertheless manage to find the time to meet with their mentees. Others prefer to set their limits in terms of their availability. You should also clearly identify where you will be meeting. It has to be a neutral spot — never at the office or at home, or in places you don’t want other people to see you. If you go out for lunch, who’s picking up the tab? How often will you meet? Are there any confidentiality clauses to sign (in cases where technology or industrial secrets are involved)? How will you share documents (hard copy, email, Dropbox)? What will your priorities be? Be open and candid in discussing these issues to avoid misunderstandings. And book your next session right away (by text message, email or phone?).
10. Can I contact you outside of our regular session times if an emergency arises?
Your mentor has your back. If they can’t answer a specific question, they’re sure to know someone else who can help. Determine what the ideal response time is. That is one of the ways you’ll be able to tell how committed your mentor is to your relationship and how interested they are in helping you succeed.
Written in collaboration with Stéphane Desjardins.