17 Apr 23 10 Engaging Questions To Ask Your Mentor

Asking your mentor thoughtful questions will not only ease you into the mentoring relationship but will also help you both establish a good rapport in the long run.

We recommend having some questions prepared in advance for your first mentoring meeting, questions that will break the ice, clarify expectations, and let you know what to expect from the mentee-mentor relationship.

Below, we outline ideas for questions you can ask your mentor not only at the start of your mentoring relationship, but throughout.

Questions To Ask Early On In The Mentoring Relationship:

• When, and how often is it most convenient for us to meet?

This will give you an idea of how much time you can devote to formal meetings per week/fortnight/month, as well as if there is a preferred day or time.

• What are your expectations of me as a mentee?

This is an important question to ask at the very start of your mentoring relationship. Your mentor will have expectations of you, just as you will have expectations them, and this way you can both understand what resources and knowledge they will be able to share with you.

• How should I prepare for our meetings?

Will you need anything specific for your meetings, and will there be topics or tasks for you to focus on in between meetings – if so, for example, should you send notes to your mentor, detailing progress or achievements ahead of time.

• Which method of communication do you prefer?

Email, text messages, phone calls, face-to-face meetings, and video calls abound these days! All communication for sfG MentorNet clients is done in a secure, safe manner – via our app or web platform. It is critical to learn how your mentor prefers to communicate so that you can respect these boundaries and make sure that your communication efforts aren’t simply ‘missed’.

• How would you characterise your mentoring style?

Individuals work in their own unique way in any relationship or learning situation. Some mentors may provide a more structured framework, while others may be more laid back. This will give you a better idea of what to expect as you move forward.

As the mentoring relationship develops, you may look for additional questions to ask your mentor to gain a deeper understanding of their experience and career history – or you may want to ensure that you utilise their insight as best you can in terms of your own career and personal development. Having a mentor is an incredible opportunity – so you’ll want to make the most of it!

Below, we cover 10 further engaging questions to ask your mentor –

1. Is there anything I should be doing at this point in my career that I haven’t considered? This is a broad question, but it allows your mentor to suggest any number of additional paths or career-related learnings that you could be working on such as online learning.
2. Where do you get your inspiration from? A fantastic opportunity for your mentor to share their own inspirations and what motivates them in their personal and professional lives. Who knows, you might even find some inspiration in their response!
3. What books do you think I should read this year? We’ve mentioned books, but this could also include questions like “what podcasts do you recommend?” or “are there any websites that are particularly good for related resources?” Why not share some of your own recommendations, too?
4. How do you keep track of your progress towards your goals? You’ll most likely be working towards ‘pre-approved’ goals during your mentoring relationship. It can be difficult to track goals and determine whether they are moving in the right direction at times – your mentor may have suggestions and recommendations on how to track your goal movements more accurately, based on their previous experiences.
5. Is there anyone within your network that I may benefit from being introduced to? ‘It’s not what you know, but who you know,’ say some! Of course, this is not always the case, but having a solid foundation of people around you in terms of your business network can often make a significant difference in your learning, development, and growth. Your mentor is likely to be surrounded by a great network of people in your related industries. Why not ask them if there is anyone in particular who would be willing to speak with you about your goals?
6. With which professional organisations are you affiliated, and how? Similarly, attending conferences or local business networking groups can be a huge step towards becoming an industry rising star! A good mentor will be able to point you in the right direction of those groups and networking opportunities that are likely to be most beneficial and relevant to you.
7. FORM Questions. FORM is an acronym for four universal rapport-builders: family, occupation, recreation, and motivation. Asking these types of questions such as ‘where were you born’ or ‘do you have any children’ can provide you with an opportunity to relate to each other on a more personal level – strengthening the relationship.
8. What Would you Do If You Were In My Shoes? In a quandary? Don’t be stuck. Your mentor is a great sounding bored to bounce ideas off too regarding career or work challenges.
9. How can I assist you? This is a great question! Mentoring relationships often work both ways with many benefits for both parties involved. As a mentee, you may also have advice and insight that your mentor may find appealing and interesting. What could be better than both parties learning and developing, thanks to one another!
10. What are you most proud of? Not necessary mentoring specific – but this is just a nice question that can provide your mentor with the opportunity to tell you something important about themselves and will help to show that you care about their achievements.

What other questions would you recommend mentees ask their mentors?

Remember – asking questions provides new perspectives and solutions and shows that as a mentee you’re engaged and willing to listen and learn from your mentor. By asking questions that encourage answers, you will soon find yourself learning more than you originally planned!