Mentor tips for getting started

Mentoring is not just the transfer of knowledge. It’s a relationship in which a more experienced person supports another in development – professionally, personally or educationally. If you are wondering how to be a mentor who can listen and actively support, you are in the right place! In this article you’ll find specific tips to help you get off to a good start.

What exactly is mentoring?

Mentoring is a long-term relationship based on trust, in which a mentor or mentee shares his or her experience, supports the mentee’s development and helps him or her achieve goals. It’s not coaching, although it uses similar tools. It’s not management, although it requires leadership competence. It’s accompaniment – conscious and committed. That’s for starters, in terms of a very simplified answer on how to be a mentor.

You can read more about the definition and models of mentoring here: What is mentoring?.

How to be a mentor: what qualities should a good mentor have?

Before we get down to specifics, it’s worth recalling a few key characteristics that are the foundation of effective mentoring:

• Willingness to help others – mentoring is a relationship based on empathy and willingness to share.
• Disposition – attendance and regularity of meetings are of paramount importance.
• Motivation – to support others, but also to develop yourself as a mentor.
• Knowledge and experience – you don’t have to be an expert in every field, but know well the area in which you are supporting the mentee.
• Communication and leadership skills, including:
  • The ability to set goals,
  • active listening,
  • asking questions,
  • Providing constructive feedback.

Read more about the qualities of a good mentor here: Traits of an effective mentor

How to be a mentor? Tips for beginners

Below you will find a set of proven tips – what to do, how to be a mentor, and what to avoid at the beginning of your mentoring journey.

✅ A companion in development – do not direct, but support. Be a guide, not a commander.

✅ Actively listen – ask questions, focus on the interviewee, build space for reflection.

✅ Please ask questions – a good question can open up a new perspective and help you solve a problem yourself.

✅ Share your experience – but don’t impose it as the only right way.

✅ Give constructive feedback – edifyingly, specifically, with the intention of fostering development.

✅ Support, don’t judge – your role is to strengthen the mentee’s potential, not criticize it.

✅ Help draw conclusions – instead of giving ready answers, support in analysis and reflection.

What to avoid as a mentor?

⛔ Don’t impose solutions – you are not the one who is supposed to know all the answers. Help find them.

⛔ Don’t be critical – feedback is not criticism. Avoid negative evaluations and comparisons.

⛔ Don’t ignore the needs of the mentee – adapt the style and way of working to his/her goals and expectations.

⛔ Don’t disappear – lack of availability and commitment undermines trust and relationship effectiveness.

⛔ Don’t dominate the conversation – mentoring is a dialogue, not an expert monologue.

The most common questions (FAQ: how to be a mentor)

How to be a mentor if I don’t have much experience?
Mentoring does not require being an expert in every field. All you need is to have real experience, be willing to share it, andbe ready or willing to accompany the other person in development. What matters is authenticity and commitment.

How to be a mentor who truly supports a mentee’s development?
The key is to actively listen, ask pertinent questions and build a relationship based on trust. A mentor should not give ready-made answers, but help the mentee find them on his/her own. If you want to know how to be a mentor who is realistically supportive – bet on presence, empathy and consistency in action.

How to be a mentor in a company if I’ve never done it before?
Start by talking to the mentee and setting common expectations and goals. You don’t need to know all the answers – more important is commitment, openness and the ability to listen. If you are wondering how to be a mentor in a professional environment, remember that relationships are key, not hierarchies or formal roles.

In conclusion – how to be a mentor?

Being a mentor is a huge responsibility, but it is also rewarding and a chance for your own development. If you are at the beginning of this path – remember that you don’t have to be perfect. You just need to be committed, open-minded and ready to learn together with your mentee. It’s a journey together – to find out how to be a mentor, you need to prepare for it and boldly start the process.

Want to start your mentoring process with professional support? Check out how the Mentiway app helps mentors conduct relationships in a structured and effective way.

👉 See how the Mentiway app works.