How can you encourage your mentee to meet their commitments and responsibilities?

One can arrive at goals but one can feel empty and purposeless. While most of such will focus on KPIs and goals, I think it is more and more apparent that how the mentee feels matters more. Mentoring requires a matching and alignment of goals, yet. But it is important to also know that a mentor cannot just be a guide on the side. Experience and wisdom, including ways of being, sense of identity and meaningful impact are jsut some things that go beyond typical business. A mentor needs to extend boundaries beyond just the standard "task" and "goals", to focusing on the "person" and "emotions".

1. Set Clear Expectations: - Clearly outline the commitments and responsibilities expected from your mentee from the beginning. Ensure they understand what is required of them. 2. Establish Accountability: - Encourage your mentee to take ownership of their commitments. Set up regular check-ins to track progress and discuss any challenges they may face. 3. Provide Support: - Offer guidance, resources, and mentorship to help your mentee fulfill their responsibilities. Be available to answer questions and provide assistance when needed. 4. Celebrate Achievements: - Acknowledge and celebrate your mentee's accomplishments, no matter how small. Positive reinforcement can motivate them to continue meeting their commitments.

Provide clear expectations and goals upfront to your mentee, emphasizing the importance of meeting commitments and responsibilities. Offer regular check-ins to monitor progress and address any challenges or obstacles they may encounter. Use positive reinforcement and recognition to acknowledge their efforts and successes. Provide guidance and support when needed, helping them develop strategies to stay organized and prioritize tasks effectively. Encourage open communication and mutual accountability, fostering a collaborative partnership towards achieving their goals.

Encourage your mentee by granting them the leadership role in your conversations. Empower them to carve out their own path, recognizing that your role as a mentor is to offer support and guidance rather than doing the work for them. While it might be challenging, consistently connect their actions to their chosen goals. This reinforces their sense of responsibility and helps them realize their decisions' direct impact on their desired outcomes.

One approach to empowerment that is seldom talked about is placing your mentee in a zone of strength. The problem with many goals is we assume it is one size fits all. Yet, research by Margerison-McCann shows that there are at least 8 different key types of work. If your mentee is showing signs that certain things are out of his willingness or energy, be wary - they might be trying to do things they are skilled at doing but not natural for them. Sure, set stretch goals and do reframing all you want. But always monitor because it can lead to burnout. Encourage them to learn what their strengths are and lean into them instead. If necessary, change processes or hire people for support.

Regularly acknowledging and rewarding your mentee through verbal praise or a structured reward system linked to milestones is important for reinforcing positive behaviors and nurturing a sense of accomplishment. This consistent recognition not only enhances their self-esteem but also acknowledges their dedication and progress. It creates a supportive environment that encourages your mentee to take ownership of their responsibilities and strive for ongoing success.

5 Key Points to Fulfill; 1) Show the Big Picture 2) Show the Path to Achieve it 3) Refer Case Studies - Showcase the Stories of Success, let them draw inspiration from that 4) Reward & Reconstruction - Appreciate for every step they take in the right direction, every mile stone. 5) Keep his Morale High Always - Though there are downs and struggles, you have to boost the morale with your experience

I have seen highly committed and driven business owners go off track for several reasons. Staying connected with a regular follow-up and check-in helps a mentee feel supported and taken care of. It's works surprisingly well to give a safety net and support to a mentee to stay focused, when there are several fears and doubts and they may not share all. And this regular follow-up and check-in requires the coach the drop their ego for a while.