How do you track mentoring impact over time?

2 Collect feedback

The second step to track mentoring impact over time is to collect feedback from your mentee and yourself on a regular basis. Feedback is essential for understanding how your mentee is feeling, what they are learning, what challenges they are facing, and what support they need from you. Feedback can also help you to reflect on your own mentoring style, strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. You can collect feedback in various ways, such as surveys, questionnaires, interviews, journals, or self-assessments. You can also use feedback tools, such as the Mentoring Competency Assessment (MCA), to measure your mentoring skills and behaviors.

3 Analyze data

The third step to track mentoring impact over time is to analyze the data that you have collected from your feedback and goal-setting processes. Data analysis can help you to identify the trends, patterns, gaps, and opportunities in your mentoring relationship. You can use data analysis to answer questions such as: How well are you and your mentee meeting your goals? What are the factors that influence your mentoring outcomes? What are the strengths and weaknesses of your mentoring relationship? How satisfied are you and your mentee with the mentoring experience? You can use data analysis tools, such as spreadsheets, graphs, charts, or dashboards, to organize and visualize your data.

4 Adjust actions

The fourth step to track mentoring impact over time is to adjust your actions based on the data analysis and feedback that you have gathered. Adjusting your actions means making changes to your mentoring plan, strategies, techniques, or behaviors to better align with your goals and your mentee's needs. For example, you may need to adjust your communication frequency, style, or mode; your mentoring activities, resources, or methods; or your feedback frequency, format, or content. Adjusting your actions can help you to optimize your mentoring impact and ensure that you and your mentee are on the same page.

5 Celebrate successes

The fifth step to track mentoring impact over time is to celebrate your successes and achievements with your mentee. Celebrating successes means acknowledging and appreciating the positive outcomes and benefits that you and your mentee have gained from the mentoring relationship. For example, you may celebrate your mentee's progress, learning, or performance; your own growth, development, or recognition; or the milestones, awards, or recognition that you and your mentee have achieved together. Celebrating successes can help you to boost your motivation, confidence, and satisfaction, as well as strengthen your mentoring bond.

6 Review and renew

The sixth step to track mentoring impact over time is to review and renew your mentoring relationship periodically. Reviewing and renewing means evaluating the overall quality, value, and relevance of your mentoring relationship, and deciding whether to continue, modify, or end it. For example, you may review and renew your mentoring relationship at the end of a predetermined period, such as six months or a year; at the completion of a major goal or project; or at a significant change or transition in your or your mentee's situation. Reviewing and renewing can help you to ensure that your mentoring relationship is meeting your expectations and needs, and that you and your mentee are still compatible and committed.

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?