Your mentor is taking time away from his or her own life in order to assist you. A little appreciation can make a big difference, and may encourage them to mentor others in the future!

As a mentor, you have more to offer than just your knowledge. Use your networking and personal connections to assist your protégé in furthering their career or studies. 

Active listeners listen with energy. They sit up straight, takes notes, and ask questions. Active listening is essential in a mentoring relationship because it reduces confusion, increases mutual understanding, and shows respect for the other’s opinions. 

As a protégé, remember that when your mentor critiques you, he or she is simply trying to help. Respond positively to advice and suggestions given to you by your mentor, and attempt to make improvements based on his or her guidance. 

Occasional random occurrences may prevent the mentor or the protégé from fulfilling their duties in the mentoring relationship. Keep communication open to help resolve such issues, and try to get back on track as soon as possible. Understand that interruptions and delays are a fact of life, and attempt to work around them!

Mentoring is a great opportunity for both individuals in the partnership to grow, and also an amazing way to make a lifelong connection with another person. 

Communicate frequently and keep your mentor or mentee up to date with important events. Inform your mentoring partner of any important changes that could impact the relationship.

Assess your own mentoring skills. Think about previous individuals who guided you along your path, and try to remember what worked, and what didn’t. Figure out what you know about mentoring, and what you still need to work on.