The movement is growing.●1,683 mentors and 2,898 mentees, and counting. Add your name →
National Mentorship Movement - 10 Years
Find a mentor
Resources

Everything you need to mentor well.

A decade of practice, distilled. Understand what mentorship is, see the research, and get the practical do's and don'ts that make a mentoring relationship work.

Find a mentor →Become a mentor
10
years of practice distilled
Start here

Guides, research and learning.

What is mentorship?

Our definition, the difference from coaching, and the forms mentoring takes.

Read the guide

The research and benefits

What decades of studies show about mentorship for careers and small business.

See the evidence

The Entrepreneurship Centre

Free, practical courses for people starting or growing a business, with The StartUp Tribe.

Explore the courses

Learning Practice

Monthly conversations with global thought leaders, with the Society for Organizational Learning.

Join the sessions
Make it work

Do's and don'ts.

The habits that separate a good mentoring relationship from one that fizzles out, for both sides of the pair.

For mentors

Do

  • Listen, clarify, and understand before advising
  • Establish expectations, then set clear goals and track progress
  • Build rapport through genuine interest in your mentee
  • Be a role model: punctual, prepared and committed
  • Share your stories, including your mistakes
  • Give honest, positive reinforcement and ask for feedback

Don't

  • Do your mentee's work for them
  • Intervene too quickly with advice
  • Create dependency or make it about you
  • Get into personal problems - you are not a psychologist
  • Hang on when it is time to move on

For mentees

Do

  • Drive the relationship and keep contact
  • Know what you want, and set clear goals
  • Come to meetings prepared, with an agenda
  • Be punctual, honour commitments, take responsibility
  • Be open to constructive feedback
  • Show appreciation and stay focused on big-picture goals

Don't

  • Expect miracles, or expect your mentor to do the work
  • Become dependent, or be too passive
  • Cancel meetings at short notice
  • Ask for advice on absolutely everything
  • Hang on when it is time to move on

The Power of Two

Know the theory? Put it into practice.

Get matched with a mentor, or give your time as one. The best way to learn mentorship is to do it.

Find a mentor →Become a mentor
0

mentees supported so far