HOW DO I KNOW IF MY MENTORSHIP IS WORKING?

Have you ever been in a situation where you are doing something, but are not sure if you are doing it right? Or you are not sure if what you are doing is working? These things happen to the best of us, where we are on a journey, but we do not know how much progress we are making, or if we are making any progress. This especially happens in a mentoring relationship, when you do not have a third party evaluating the relationship. Not to worry, I am here to be that third party. I will be sharing with you, the indicators to watch out for to know whether your mentorship is working or not.

You are meeting consistently. Consistency is a vital ingredient in a mentoring relationship. Decisions like how often you meet should be made off the bat. After agreeing on when to meet, it is essential to follow the schedule agreed on by both parties. Having meetings only when it suits you will not cut it; both parties have to be committed to making every meeting. It is understandable that every once in a while, there might be a cancelled meeting, but this should not be a regular occurrence. Meeting consistency shows commitment and builds trust, which will help the overall development of both parties.

You are both reaching your goals. At the inception of a mentoring relationship, both parties must have had a goal in mind which they would want to achieve. Yes, I said both parties, because mentors also gain from mentorship. Mentor and mentee need to discuss these goals and expectations, both long-term and short-term. At some point in the relationship, you should be able to evaluate how far you have achieved. If you are not getting anywhere with your goals, that relationship might not be working.

You are both holding each other accountable. Accountability is a sign of a good mentoring relationship. For effective accountability, mentors and mentees have to have made preparations for plans and goals, and hold each other accountable to those plans. Accountability is a two-way street where mentors provide guidance and mentees to meet established goals. At the start of every meeting, both parties should do a review of the last meeting and the progress made. Being accountable keeps both parties in check.

You are both innovative. A relationship where both parties bring new ideas and think outside the box is an ideal one. Mentors and mentees should always present new tactics on how to improve their relationship and achieve their individual goals. Mentors and mentees who are willing to try new things will get the most out of a mentoring relationship. Applying the same strategies will fail at some point; mentors have to help their mentees see new perspectives.

Iron sharpens iron, as one man sharpens another.

Proverbs 27:17 ESV

Take a deep look at your mentoring relationship, is it lacking or all of these indicators? It might be to move on or make some adjustments. And if all is well in your mentorship, keep pressing on.

Thank you for reading. Do you agree with these indicators? Please share your thoughts in the comment section.