Mentor Match

1. Before enrolling in the program or searching for a connection, update your ToXchange profile, ensuring that all categories are completed and information is accurate. Mentors and mentees use your ToXchange profile, as well as information you enter as part of the enrollment process, to assess matches.
2. Review the “Program Guidelines” section of this web page. Additional detail is provided in the “FAQs”.
3. Determine whether you wish to be a Mentor, Mentee, or both; complete the appropriate Enrollment Form.
4. Use “Find a Mentor” or “Find a Mentee”  to select the criteria important to you for the mentoring relationship.
5. Review the profiles of individuals on the list created by the search.
6. When an ideal candidate is found, send them a request to form a mentorship.
7. If you don’t receive a response, send a reminder message.
8. When a mentor/mentee pair forms, update the Mentor/Mentee Status section on your Mentor/Mentee profile as appropriate.
9. When the relationship is completed, revise the Mentor/Mentee Status if you are available for another match.
10. Don’t forget to keep your SOT and Mentor Match profile up to date.

PROGRAM GUIDELINES AND EXPECTATIONS

• Confidentiality is important and will be protected in this online system, and it is anticipated that the information shared by the mentee and mentor will be kept confidential. SOT is not responsible for any breaks in confidentiality.
• Advice given by the mentor does not necessarily reflect the views of SOT.
• Participants will maintain an updated ToXchange profile. Within their ToXchange Mentor/Mentee profile, participants should complete their mentor/mentee bio. It is strongly recommended that participants upload a photo to their profile.

Mentor

• Fully commit to the relationship:
  • Be on time and engaging during meetings, avoid canceling meetings, follow through on action items.
  • Respond to emails and requests from mentee in an agreed upon timeframe.
  • Mentors should only match with up to 2 mentees at any given time.
• Strong communication:
  • Decide with mentee the frequency and method(s) of communication recognizing need for flexibility at times.
  • Practice keen listening skills and focus on topics being discussed during meetings with mentee.
  • For long distance mentoring, a combination of phone, video, and email work well for communication.
• Establish trust with mentee:
  • Trust is cornerstone of a mentoring relationship and sometimes sensitive matters are discussed.
  • Trust is established over time by fully committing to the relationship, practicing strong communication skills, tailoring discussion and advice to individual mentee, and showing authenticity and vulnerability.
• Facilitate mentee goals:
  • Be supportive and a champion in assisting mentee in achieving the set goals.
  • Prioritize selection of mentoring topics to top four areas of mentoring expertise to facilitate goal achievement.
• If the relationship is not working with a mentee, try again:
  • Discuss with mentee what aspects are not working and develop a plan to overcome challenges.
  • If decided with a mentee to end the relationship, review with mentee learnings of both parties, encourage mentee to seek a different mentor and not discard the value of mentoring, and thank them for their time.
  • In the “Manage Relationships” area of your mentoring profile mark the relationship “complete” and seek a different mentee.

Return to Mentor Enrollment Form.

Mentee

• Fully commit to the relationship:
  • Be on time and engaging during meetings, avoid canceling meetings, follow through on action items.
  • Respond to emails and requests from mentor in an agreed upon timeframe.
  • Mentees will be allowed to match with an unlimited number of mentors at any given time.
• Take ownership of your mentoring relationship:
  • Take the lead and drive the relationship in the direction to obtain the advice and input desired.
  • Mentee is responsible for requesting and scheduling meetings including the initial request to a mentor.
• Strong communication:
  • Decide with mentor the frequency and method(s) of communication recognizing need for flexibility at times.
  • Practice keen listening skills and focus on topics being discussed during meetings with mentor.
  • For long distance mentoring, a combination of phone, video, and email work well for communication.
• Establish trust with mentor:
  • Trust is cornerstone of a mentoring relationship and sometimes sensitive matters are discussed.
  • Trust is established over time by fully committing to the relationship, practicing strong communication skills, tailoring discussion and advice to individual mentee, and showing authenticity and vulnerability.
• Establish goals with mentor:
  • Set 2-3 goals to achieve in the mentoring relationship and determine a timeline to meet these goals.
• If the relationship is not working with a mentor, try again:
  • Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get an immediate reply or it takes time to find an initial match.
  • Encouraged to discuss with mentor what aspects are not working and develop a plan to overcome challenges.
  • If decide with a mentor to end the relationship, review learnings and thank mentor for their time.
  • In the “Manage Relationships” area of your mentoring profile mark the relationship “complete” and seek a different mentor and not discard the entire idea of a mentoring relationship as a whole.

Return to Mentee Enrollment Form.