Setting an Agenda for your Mentorship Session

Mentorship is a two-way street. It works best when a mentee sets an agenda for the session, but where do you start? Being prepared is key to a successful mentorship session where both parties benefit from it. We see hundreds of sessions per month, and sessions that are the most successful follow this format for agenda setting. Here are the steps you need to cover when setting an agenda for your mentorship session. Use it as a guideline, a jumping-off point for your conversations with your mentors! While a structured agenda may seem like overkill, it’s a great way to clearly communicate what you need from your mentor, making sure to get all of your important points across. 

Mentorly’s Mandatory Agenda Feature

  1. Introduction

  2. Longterm objective and session objective

  3. Current situation check-in

  4. Problems and/or fears

  5. Previous efforts/trials

  6. Questions

  7. Homework and scheduling a follow-up session

60-Min Session Agenda Outline

1. Introductions (10 min)

Introduce yourself, your work and what you hope to gain out of your session(s) with your mentor. Allow your mentor to do the same so that you can make the most of their expertise.

 

Question for Mentors:

  • Tell me about yourself and your professional journey

  • What are your areas of expertise and which subjects would you like to avoid discussing during our sessions?

 

2. Longterm objective and session objective (5 min)

Share your long-term objective along with a few short-term goals and explore the best session structure to help you reach them.

 

  • As my mentor, what expectations do you have of me, of our sessions together?

  • How often would you be available to mentor?

 

3. Current situation check-in (5 min)

Start with getting a sense of the impression your mentor has of your work and goals to see if you’re both on the same page.

  • Do you have feedback on my work or my expectations?

  • What do you think we should tackle first?

  • Do you see any weaknesses or potential problems?

 

4. Problems and/or fears (10 min)

Tackle the areas that are most difficult for you right now and explore ways to overcome them with your mentor.

  • What do you see as most urgent and requiring immediate attention?

  • What important lessons have you learned along your professional path that can help me potentially avoid the same mistakes and obstacles?

  • Do you have insecurities? If so, how do you keep them at bay?

 

5. Previous efforts/trials (10 min)

Describe the steps you’ve taken to move your work forward and mitigate the challenge(s) you have faced.

  • Here’s what I’ve tried in the past and their outcomes

  • Here’s what I’ve done so far and the current status

 

6. Questions (15 min)

Time to think more broadly! This is your chance to expand on your initial questions and/or pain points to get the most out of your mentor(s) expertise.

  • What are the realities of my market, positive and negative, that I should be aware of?

  • When I’m negotiating with a supplier or potential client, what should I keep in mind?

  • When you’re in a conflict with someone, what do you find is the best way to resolve the situation to mitigate discomfort and potential setbacks?

 

7. Homework and scheduling a follow-up session (5 min)

Time to wrap up! Show gratitude, plan your work and clarify communication expectations over the following weeks.

  • Which resources do you recommend I look into?

  • Do you have feedback regarding our session together?

  • Can I send you files or notes along the way to prepare our next sessions together?

  • What is your next availability?

You can include this agenda upon booking and/or share it via Mentorly Messaging once you’ve booked your session.

 

Not only will you feel more prepared for your video call, but your mentor will greatly appreciate the time and consideration you put into clarifying your needs, which will only help them help you more 😀 !