5 Example Goals for Mentees to Use

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Mentoring is an extremely powerful and valuable tool for both personal and professional growth. Mentoring offers guidance, support and insight to the mentee, with the mentor acting as a guide throughout the development process.

As a mentee, we always suggest before finding a mentor, that you have specific goals in mind. By having clear expectations and objectives, not only can you find the perfect mentor to help steer you in the right direction, but it also helps improve the mentorship experience overall.

Setting goals is a vital aspect of the mentoring process, in particular, for mentees. By setting goals, ideally using the S.M.A.R.T format, mentees can see a number of incredible benefits, such as improved motivation, accountability and clarity on the goals set.

We know that sometimes, it can be hard to set goals, which is why we're here to help. In this article, we share 5 example goals you can use as a mentee to make the most of your mentoring relationship.

5 Goal Examples for Mentees

1. Expand Your Network

Mentors are a great way to expand your network and help teach you the valuable skills you need to improve your networking abilities. Networking is part of every individual's career, and building a strong professional network plays an important role in successful career development and growth. As mentioned, your mentor can help you expand your skills, but can also attend relevant events with you and share their professional network with you.

2. Career Advancement

One of the most commonly set goals by mentees is career advancement. It’s not unusual for mentees to aim for promotions, career advancements and even changes in their career path with the help of a mentor. If you plan to set career advancement as a goal, take the time to work with your mentor to break the goal into smaller and more actionable steps. Your mentor is there to offer you career guidance, insights and help you create a roadmap to achieve the goals you set.

3. Improved Work-Life Balance

Many individuals seek out the help of a mentor, to improve their work-life balance. If you’re someone who struggles to maintain a healthy work-life balance, then we highly recommend considering this as a goal. A healthy work-life balance is a great way to decrease your stress, reduce burnout and improve your overall well-being. Your mentor can help you with things such as time management, prioritisation skills and setting clear boundaries, all of these things can result in a healthy work-life balance.

4. Leadership Development

If you're considering taking on leadership positions in the future, or are currently in a role that requires leadership skills, you should consider having leadership development as part of your mentoring goals. Work with a mentor to understand things such as different leadership styles, enhance your decision-making capabilities and learn how to inspire a team. If your mentor has had experience in leadership roles, they can share their real-world experiences and insights with you.

5. Gain New Perspectives

It’s important to gain fresh perspectives, no matter the challenges you're facing. Set a goal as a mentee to gain new perspectives, expand your knowledge and actively search for diverse insights and experiences. If you’re someone who likes to do things a certain way, mentoring can be the perfect opportunity to broaden your horizons and challenge your own thought process. By doing so, you will be more innovative, creative and improve your critical-thinking abilities.

Final Thoughts

Having clear goals in place as a mentee is fundamental as you embark on your mentoring journey. Whether you’re looking to enhance your leadership skills or want to advance in your career, having goals helps steer the way to success. With the goals acting as a framework, you will have more productive discussions, stay motivated and make more calculated actions that will allow you to effectively meet your objectives.

To learn more about mentoring, check out PushFar.