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Mentorship Support

How to start working with a mentor or mentee

This project guide helps two Sky’s the Limit members work together through five meetings as they collaborate to establish a successful mentoring relationship.

Meeting 1: Get to know each other and set clear expectations

Before this meeting:

In this meeting:

  1. Click here to create your own copy of the Mentoring Meeting Guide.

After this meeting:

  • Entrepreneur: be sure to thank your mentor for their time. 

  • Both: share any relevant tools or resources with each other. 

 

Meeting 2: Use 5 C’s to identify top two challenges

Before this meeting:

In this meeting:

  • Use your copy of your Mentoring Meeting Guide to identify and talk through your top two challenges to starting or growing your business.

After this meeting:

  • Entrepreneur: be sure to thank your mentor for their time. 

  • Both: share any relevant tools or resources with each other. 

  • Note any agreed-upon next steps.

 

Meeting 3: Discuss the first challenge

Before this meeting:

  • Review: The first challenge identified in your last meeting

In this meeting:

  • Determine the best approach to talking through this challenge and working toward solutions.

  • Use the Gradual Release or SMART Goals section of your Mentoring Meeting Guide to take notes.

After this meeting:

  • Note any agreed-upon next steps.

 

Meeting 4: Discuss the second challenge

Before this meeting:

  • Review: The second challenge identified in your last meeting

In this meeting:

  • Determine the best approach to talking through this challenge and working toward solutions.

  • Use the Gradual Release or SMART Goals section of your Mentoring Meeting Guide to take notes.

After this meeting:

  • Note any agreed-upon next steps.

 

Meeting 5: Review progress and determine next steps

Before this meeting:

  • Review: Review any meeting notes from you past four meetings

In this meeting:

  • Both mentor and mentee should note any wins (positive experience, business milestones or goals achieved, etc.) and opportunities (things that didn’t go quite right, communication issues, etc.)

After this meeting:

  • Either way, follow up! Be sure to thank each other for the experience of working together. 

  • Be sure to mark your project complete, update your business tracker, and start a new project!

Want to talk to someone who can help?

Sky’s the Limit members are connected to a community of volunteer business mentors, more free tools and guides like this one, and exclusive funding opportunities.