How can you host remote mentoring sessions?

2 Set clear expectations

The next step is to establish clear expectations and boundaries for your remote mentoring relationship. This includes defining the purpose, scope, frequency, duration, and format of your sessions, as well as the roles, responsibilities, and feedback mechanisms for both parties. You should also agree on how you'll communicate between sessions, what kind of support or resources you'll provide or request, and how you'll measure progress and outcomes. Having a written agreement or contract can help you avoid misunderstandings and conflicts later on.

3 Prepare for each session

The third step is to prepare for each remote mentoring session in advance. This means doing some research, planning, and reflection on the topics, questions, or challenges you want to address with your mentee. You should also review any previous feedback, notes, or assignments and check if your mentee has any specific needs or expectations for the session. You might want to create an agenda or a list of goals and share it with your mentee before the session to keep it focused and organized.

4 Engage your mentee

The fourth step is to engage your mentee during the remote mentoring session. This means being attentive, respectful, and supportive of your mentee's learning style, pace, and interests. You should also use active listening, open-ended questions, and constructive feedback to encourage your mentee to share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences, as well as to challenge them to think critically, creatively, and independently. You can also use stories, examples, or analogies to illustrate your points and make them more relatable and memorable.

5 Use interactive tools

The fifth step is to use interactive tools to enhance your remote mentoring session. These can include screen sharing, whiteboards, polls, quizzes, games, or other online resources that can help you demonstrate, explain, or practice concepts, skills, or behaviors with your mentee. You can also use these tools to create some fun and variety in your session and to check your mentee's understanding and retention of the content. However, be careful not to overuse or rely on these tools too much, as they can also distract or overwhelm your mentee.

6 Follow up after each session

The sixth and final step is to follow up after each remote mentoring session. This means sending a summary, a feedback form, or a thank-you note to your mentee, as well as asking for their feedback on the session. You should also review your own performance and identify what went well and what could be improved for the next session. You might also want to assign some homework, action steps, or resources to your mentee to help them apply what they learned and prepare for the next session.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?