Provide your mentor with feedback. It can be very rewarding and satisfying to mentor and help a protégé to achieve his or her personal, professional, or educational goals. Mentors often don’t get feedback about the impact that they are having.

• if you do follow a suggestion given by your mentor, then let him or her know how it worked out or what you did or what you learned

• acknowledge the advice your mentor gave you and its impact on you

• let them know about your accomplishments and how they have contributed to your success

• let them know when you need help

• share updates about successes, challenges, and milestones

• if you’re comfortable, share updates about things not working in life and relationships

• talk about your relationship

• share examples of your work

• celebrate life events together

Show your mentor respect for their time, interest, and expertise

• call or email regularly to check in and update the prospective mentor on topics related to your initial meeting and your goals

• show interest or enthusiasm in your mentor’s activities and interests

• be an active listener and ask questions

• schedule a regular meeting

• share more about your career, academic, and/or personal goals

• ask for advice, Maybe even take notes and follow-up with suggestions

General tips

• provide mentor with up-to-date contact information, particularly if you move or change your email address or phone number

• provide mentor with background information about you including your accomplishments, interests, hobbies, resources, life experiences, and challenges

• send periodic emails to check in with their mentor

• share updates

• show up and be on time for meetings and end meetings on time, be respectful of their time

• if an emergency comes up and you can’t meet, then let your mentor know in advance

• be respectful of your mentor’s time, interest, and opinions

• show gratitude and appreciation (say “thank you”) and ask about how they are doing

• actively participate in decision-making, especially about how you will spend your time together let them know how they have helped you

• talk through major decisions with them