Mentoring a colleague - any advice?

[BatshitIsTheOnlyExplanation]

My workplace has a mentoring scheme where you get paired up with a colleague and run sessions on a one-on-one basis for 9 months.

I will have to lead about 12 hours worth of discussion. I've got some plans of how to cover communication, delegation etc. but it seems like a lot of time.

Any suggestions? Have you been either the mentor or the mentee? What worked well for you?

have you not had training about this?

On top of what you have already planned I would dedicate time to discuss issues and concerns that they have. I have found that these meetings can be a good platform to pass on knowledge and advice based on issues or situations that are occurring for the person that you are mentoring. Usually concerns that they have you would have experienced in some way previously.

You need to ask them what they want to get out of it, what their aspirations are etc. But I’d echo @yepandagain in asking if you’ve had any training in this. Also look into the difference between mentoring and coaching - they are different things so make sure you and your mentee are on the same page about what you each expect from the experience.

Get them to talk about a success they had. What happened, when, why where. What did they learn.

Same for something that didn’t go well.

Reflect in technical skills, softer skills. How are they building relationships.

that’ll keep you going.

Be clear on what you and your mentee want abs expect from the relationship.