Hi Truls! Why did you choose to become a LUSEM mentor?
Looking back at my own studies and graduation, I remember thinking of work life and being part of a company as something very distant. Looking back, I realize how seemingly small decisions in those years of moving from school to the working life, can have vast results on our future life. In this light, I think lending a supporting hand and help create some additional reflection on one’s choices can contribute positively to young people taking that large step into working life.
What has been your personal insights from being a mentor? Has the role impacted your own personal development?
My experience of being a mentor has been profound. It has made me realize the power of providing support and the joy in helping others forward. Our conversations have also allowed me to reflect back on my own journey, and to make me see more clearly on my own path and choices I have made and stand to make.
My experience of being a mentor has been profound. It has made me realize the power of providing support and the joy in helping others forward.
The thing about being a mentor I have most enjoyed is seeing the mentee take personal steps forward, and to see them realize things that make them surer of their own path.
How do you and your mentee plan the mentorship: how often do you talk, do you meet in-person or in digital meetings, what are your discussion topics etc?
Me and my mentees have combined both physical and digital meetings which I think have been a good mix. I think meeting in person is important especially in the beginning, and that digital meeting can help increase the frequency of contacts. I find it useful to set a fixed interval of meetings, like every 2-4 weeks, but as a mentor to also make yourself available, and let the mentee know it’s ok to call or text in between scheduled meetings.
I also think more frequent meetings in the start of a mentorship are very useful.
To find a good balance around letting the mentorship form around the needs of the mentee and to provide a healthy push and useful sharing of experience is a delicate business that has to be adapted to every mentor/mentee relationship.
Me and my mentees have used a format where we at the end of each session set a theme for the next one, that we are both to contemplate on until then. I think this is a good way to make the mentorship period a continuous process of growth and contemplation.
What do you believe to be a good setting for a mentorship meeting?
I believe informal settings are the best for mentorship meetings, at least for the majority of the meetings. Cafés or walks together is a good idea, and to keep the meetings outside of the regular formal places like school or offices is a good way to do it as well. I think different environmental settings can help open the mind to new things, and if you want to reach new conclusions and realizations that you don’t make every day, perhaps you should not be where you spend every day.
What is your top advice for mentors and mentees for a successful mentorship?
For mentors, I think it’s good to have a clear understanding of your own wish to be a mentor and what your personal qualities allow you to contribute with. Make sure you have mental bandwidth for the commitment. To have a successful mentorship I also think it’s important to always keep in mind that it’s about the mentee and their development. Examples from your own experience is good when called for, but we need to be mindful to not lecture or try to manage mentees. Rather plenty of questions and the will to listen are better strategies. To find a good balance around letting the mentorship form around the needs of the mentee and to provide a healthy push and useful sharing of experience is a delicate business that has to be adapted to every mentor/mentee relationship.
For mentees my top advice is to not try to paint yourself in bright color, there are other settings in which this can be practiced. Use the mentor to open up about yourself, fears and aspirations and don’t be afraid to challenge your mentor.
As a final note, also don’t forget that this is an optional thing we choose to do so don’t view it too rigidly. There are no rights and wrongs, and the mentorship relationship can be exactly what you and your mentor/mentee choose it to be!
