Mentoring: Online Mentoring

While mentoring works best face to face. Done properly an online mentoring relationship (or mentoring relationship using a combination of online and offline interactions) can work well.

However, if your mentoring relationship is online, rather than face-to-face there are some key things that you should bear in mind.

• Building rapport and a relationship of engagement and trust are still important if not more important when the relationship is online. Take the time to get to know each other.

• Planning in advance and having a clear plan is vital. As with all mentoring relationships, it is important to be clear about the purpose of the online mentoring relationship. You will both need to have a shared understanding of the mentoring process and agree on expectations – just as you would with a normal formal mentoring relationship.

• Most importantly, when online, ensure you respond to your mentee in a timely and set a realistic expectation of how much time you can commit to mentoring right at the start of the mentoring relationship. One advantage of online mentoring is that it can be time effective and work well for those mentoring at a distance or who are short on time.

• Encourage your mentee to identify their own goals and work through ways towards these rather than going straight in with advice/ suggestions. Good mentoring is rarely just about advice. It can be harder to build rapport online but practice active listening and a good foundation to your relationship can help drive your mentee forward.

Further Reading:

• Mentoring: An Introduction
• How Do I Find a Good Mentor?
• Mentoring: Getting to know your Mentor
• Mentoring: Use your network to build a network of mentors
• Mentoring: What Makes a Good Mentor?