Establishing expectations
Overview -
Establishing mutual understanding of expectations is an essential part of developing a successful mentoring relationship. Achieving this understanding involves a conversational exchange with active listening. In order to aim work efforts toward maximum potential success, a meeting to discuss expectations must be held before beginning any research or lab work. In this discussion, it is also key for the mentee to understand what, if any, consequences might develop if any particular expectations are not met. This initial meeting establishes a framework for ongoing dialog regarding progress and possible need for support.
for the mentor
In the initial stages of establishing a mentoring relationship, it is important to establish expectations by having a conversation about some key topics, including:
Mentee's prior knowledge as it relates to the project
Outcome or objective the mentee wants to accomplish, for example:
What the mentee wants to learn
What skills the mentee wants to gain
What purpose this experience will serve for the mentee
Timeline for the project, including:
What should be accomplished
How long each part should take
What happens if a particular deadline is not met
Goals for the project
Activities involved in the project
Be sure to summarize back to your mentee your understanding of their answers and to ask them to do the same regarding your outline of expectations. The latter can be prompted by asking the mentee, "okay, so tell me what do you understand so far?"
for the mentee
Ask your mentor for clear goals, including:
Project timeline
Training required with timeframe expected
Deliverables, like data, analysis, and group presentations including any design, layout, or formatting requirements
Ask your mentor for plans for regular assessment. Options might include:
Daily assessment of progress in training
Daily assessment of experimental plans, calculations, and/or data
Weekly assessment of progress relative to timeline
Weekly or bi-weekly presentation of project results by mentee
Be a good listener
Take notes
Speak up and ask questions on things you are unsure about
Request clarification, more detail, or more explanation for points or concepts that seem vague
Verify your understanding by paraphrasing back to your mentor what you heard them say
If desired, send an email summary of your meeting notes to your mentor to help with keeping track of progress