Tips for Being a Great Protégé

• Select a mentor who can help you be the best you can be, not one you think can help you get a promotion.

• Remember, you can sometimes learn more from people who are different than from people who are “just like you.”

• Get crystal clear on your goals and expectations for a mentoring relationship.

• Communicate your goals and expectations in your first meeting.

• Mentoring is about learning, not looking good in front of your mentor. Be yourself and be willing to take risks and experiment with new skills and ideas.

• When your mentor gives you advice or feedback, work hard to hear it as a gift. Just because it may be painful does not mean it is not beneficial.

• If your mentoring relationship is not working like you hoped it would, clearly communicate your concerns to your mentor.

• Great mentoring relationships take two people—a partnership. Look in the mirror before you conclude a poor mentoring relationship is all about your mentor.

• Mentoring relationships are designed to be temporary. When you have met your mentoring goals, be willing to let the relationship end.