Developing a Relationship with Your Mentee

While every mentoring relationship progresses at its own pace, many experience common stages. This module explains the stages of a mentoring relationship and how to deal with challenges that may arise. It also helps you determine when to seek additional support from your mentoring program coordinator. By developing a basic understanding of the common stages of mentoring relationships, you will be better equipped to work with your mentee. By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Identify the common stages of a mentoring relationship
• Understand the perspective of the mentee and the mentor during each stage
• Identify ways to navigate through predictable challenges
• Understand the supportive role that your mentoring program staff play

This training module is designed to complement the in-person mentor training that your mentoring program provides. We strongly encourage you to work closely with your mentoring program coordinator to understand your mentee’s experiences and to contact program staff whenever you have questions or concerns about the mentoring relationship.