Question

You have been assigned to mentor Rachel for the next six months. You have been told that Rachel has been identified as a high performer with the potential for joining the Accelerated Advancement Program.

1. How do envision your first meeting with Rachel proceeding?
2. What key action items do you expect to take away from the first meeting?
3. How do expect to minimize any of Rachel’s anxieties/concerns?

Answer 1

1. In my first meeting with Rachel, I will first know Rachel's mind set, her abilities and sincerity towards her goals and aspirations. I would also concentrate on how I will be able to develop her abilities and how can we as a team add benefits to her. I would also ask her about her expectations in next 6 months of association with me. I would also discuss few topics which are not related to the mentorship(general topics), so that we get friendly and we both will have no zone of uncomfortableness during next 6 months of mentorship.

2. From the first meeting I would,

2.1 try to identify her positive and negative qualities.

2.2 Would find ways and people who would strengthen her positive qualities and help her achieve what she goals to.

2.3 Would identify ways and people who would help her overcome her negative qualities.

2.4 I would also assign her with few assignments to know her capabilities and keep her on the pace that she is on to.

2.5 I would also like to hear from her weekly and say her my opinions on how she is doing.(weekly update and discussion meetings)

3. I would firstly gain her confidence on me so that she will be able to follow things that I suggest her do.

I would let her know the ways in which I could her her so that she does not get into any problem during her tenure with me and later too.

Make her understand that I am always there to answer to all her questions and guide her if she gets stuck in anything.