Before the Meeting

For a mentoring relationship to be productive, mentor and mentee need a shared understanding of what they want to achieve and clear expectations.

• Prepare in advance: review each other’s professional background to understand skills, expertise and context.
• For a first session, the mentee should email the mentor with a CV and a short background summary.
• The mentee should reflect on goals, current challenges, and priority topics; draft an agenda and share it with the mentor for input.

During the Mentoring Meeting

1) Start with a brief informal catch‑up

Mentoring is about human connection as well as outcomes. Begin with a short personal check‑in to build rapport and trust—this makes honest conversations easier.

2) Review the previous session (if applicable)

Revisit any actions agreed last time. The mentor provides constructive feedback and both parties discuss progress. For example, if a learning course was set as a goal, the mentor should ask the mentee to reflect on what they learned and how they applied it.

3) Confirm the focus for this session

Arrive with a proposed topic (from the pre‑shared agenda), but refine it after the progress review. Agree the most relevant focus for today.

4) Plan solutions and next steps

Explore options to overcome challenges and outline a practical plan the mentee can execute. Clear planning makes the meeting more valuable and actionable.

5) Set actions and schedule the next meeting

Close by documenting an action list for the mentee (and any mentor actions). Ensure both parties agree on what success looks like and confirm the date/time of the next session.

After the Meeting

Follow up promptly

The mentee should send a follow‑up within 24 hours, thanking the mentor, capturing key learnings, and restating the agreed actions.

Provide constructive feedback

The mentee should share what was most helpful so the mentor can refine their approach. Mutual feedback strengthens the relationship.

Stay committed to actions

Following through on commitments is essential; missed actions can discourage mentors and slow progress.

Respect healthy boundaries

The mentee should respect the mentor’s boundaries. Contact outside meetings is fine when appropriate, but mentors may have limited time. Mentors, in turn, should respond to reasonable questions, reflect on feedback, and share any useful links or resources discussed.

Final Thoughts

Mentoring relationships benefit both parties, but they succeed when there is mutual respect, clear expectations and honest communication. A structured mentoring programme ensures meetings remain focused, actionable and genuinely impactful. This helps the mentee get the most from the relationship, overcome challenges, and achieve personal and professional goals.

If you’re looking to build a structured mentoring programme, visit PushFar—the world’s leading mentoring and career progression platform—and sign up for free.