Suggestions for Protégés
DO’S
- Come prepared to meetings and/or phone calls, ask questions seek specific advice and help as needed from mentor.
- Be considerate of mentor’s time. Return calls promptly; be on time. Let mentor suggest extra activities.
- Listen attentively to all the mentor has to say. Store what may seem irrelevant for future use.
- Seriously consider all advice you receive.
- Show appreciation for every form of assistance your mentor gives you. Say thanks!
- Give constructive feedback to mentor so you both can re-adjust if it’s not working.
- Assume relationship will be strictly professional. Let mentor take lead in making relationship more personal or friendly (it may never develop that way).
- Keep in touch once you part company, send a note or call from time to time to provide progress reports and say thanks, if it feels right to do so.
DON’TS
- Call mentor for no reason.
- Assume mentor has unlimited time for you.
- Tune out when topic seems irrelevant to your immediate needs
- Ramble on, ignoring clues that you’re talking too long.
- Forget to share the outcome of the help your mentor gave.
- Immediately defend/explain yourself, or worse, criticize your mentor.
- Intrude into mentor’s personal life or expect to be close friends.
- Talk negatively about your mentor behind her/his back.
- Leave on bad terms.