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Put yourself in the other person's shoes! Think for a moment how your protege might be feeling; a little fearful about failing, timid about asking for help, nervous about making a good first impression, unsure of their goals or maybe a little intimidated about your experience. Take things slow and take some time to think about how your new associate may be feeling.
Don't expect too much. Relationships take time. What's that saying about Rome not being built in a day? Think about how long it took you to learn what you have, it's going to take some time and some energy to pass this knowledge along to someone else. Don't expect results overnight.
Take the responsibilities seriously. Treat the "job" of being a mentor like a real job. Show the "mentee" the same courtesies you would show your most important client and/or your son or daughter. Make appointments and keep them. Set real goals and aim to achieve them.
Be honest. One of hardest parts of being a leader is having to say "no" sometimes. If you cannot commit the time or the energy to guiding someone through the mentorship process, be honest and say so. If you have already committed to mentoring someone, be honest about what you perceive as their strengths and weaknesses and most of all be honest about your own experience and what you can offer.
Practice what you preach. You can bet that the person looking to you for guidance will be taking your word for it most of the time. The rest of the time they'll be watching your actions, following your lead and trying to model themselves after your behavior. It's vital that you act with integrity. Say what you mean and mean what you say.
Take on the role of student. The mentoring relationship is meant to be mutually beneficial. You have an opportunity to polish you communication and leadership skills and you might actually learn something from your protege if you keep an open mind. The process should change both of you for the better. Learn to give credit where credit is due and let yourself be taught.
Build trust. Leadership is about respect and the best way to encourage respect is to build trust. Get to know the person you are mentoring. See them as a person not a "project" and make a point of treat them everyday as if it is indeed a compliment and a privilege to have them aspire to be like you.
