Highlights:

1. Mentorship thrives when mentors and mentees actively engage, shaping the dynamic together.
2. Mentees, like architects, build trust, effective communication, and honesty as foundational pillars in fostering a strong and enduring mentor-mentee relationship.
3. Effective mentees embody a perpetual student mindset, fostering growth and respect.

The word mentor, which has its origins in Greek mythology, is closely associated with the Sanskrit word 'Guru'. The mentoring relationship is non-transactional and is a necessity for enjoying satisfied career advancement. The mentoring relationship begins with discussions on career pathways and ways to achieve them and gradually becomes a trusted lifelong friendship. Mentors, with their wisdom, are often clear about their role in a mentoring relationship, but mentees who are in the career exploration stage are unaware of their contribution to the relationship for self and career growth. This article explains the role of a mentee by taking reference to 5 different professions.

Swami Vivekananda was mentored by Ramkrishna Paramahansa, and Chanakya mentored both Chandragupta Maurya and Bindusara, two great kings of ancient India. In both the above examples, we see that the mentees became very famous and are remembered even today because they took their role as a mentee very seriously and contributed greatly to reap the benefit of the beautiful relationship of mentoring. The strength of a good mentoring relationship is when the mentees discover their identity and create an image that is completely different from that of the mentors.
 

There are very few theories of mentoring available, though the practice of mentoring is emphasized almost everywhere. Kram & Cohen proposed one of the most popular theories in 1985, which is a psychological theory with four stages. Initiation, cultivation, separation, and redefinition are the four stages where, from a level of suspicion, the relationship blossoms into a long-term trusting friendship. Based on this theory, several researchers have examined several mentoring programs in different professions but have focused only on the contribution of the mentor.

A mentoring relationship is a dyadic one, and the role played by both mentor and mentee is equally important. While a lot has been spoken and written about the ideal or the good mentor, minimal attention has been given to the contribution that a mentee must make to the mentoring relationship. Good mentees must assume the hat of at least five different professions to be well-groomed and climb the career ladder in their chosen field under the guidance of a mentor. Enlisted below are a few roles that an ideal mentee must play.

1. Pilot- Mentees must imagine themselves in the driving seat. While the mentor sitting in the passenger seat has agreed to be a part of the mentee’s journey, the mentee is in charge of the relationship. Mentees must reach out to their mentors to not only seek guidance but also maintain and enhance their relationship with the mentor. Sometimes, it could be as simple as sharing an article you come across or informing them of the recent developments in your life. This simple role will go a long way in assuring the mentor of your interest in the relationship. So, the next time you feel your mentoring relationship is not working, simply take control of the steering wheel and turn it in the right direction.

2. Architect- One must dig a deep foundation if one wants to construct a towering building. A mentee, like an architect, must design the blueprint of the relationship and, along with the mentor, must ensure that this design is turned into reality. For a successful mentoring relationship, we must build a strong foundation where the relationship with the mentor is deep. Trust, effective communication, and honesty are the foundation stones of a strong and sustainable relationship with the mentor.

3. Student- Responsible mentees understand the need to be a student forever who diligently follows everything the teacher assigns. They must make an honest attempt at being punctual, complete their assigned work with complete understanding, take notes, listen attentively, respect and value the mentor’s time, and be willing and eager to learn new things, even if it means exploring newer avenues.

4. Judge- Ever made a decision and passed the buck when the outcome was unfavorable? We have all exhibited this behavior at some point in our lives. However, if exhibited in a mentoring relationship, it could end up spoiling the dynamics of the relationship. Mentees must gather sufficient information, make decisions, and own up to the decisions they make, similar to what a judge would do in a courtroom. Ideal mentees turn to their mentors for advice but believe that they are the ultimate decision-makers and are solely accountable for their decisions.

5. Software Engineer- A mentee must step into the shoes of a software engineer to get the wholesome benefit of the mentoring relationship. One of the key tasks of the software engineer is to work efficiently with system programmers, analysts, and other programmers. Similarly, a mentee must efficiently collaborate and learn from other mentees under the same mentor and from people in the mentor's network. A lot can be gained by such networks.

We all know Rome was not built in a day, but they were laying bricks every hour. The onus of a mentoring relationship, based on trust, lies more on the Mentee.

The above-mentioned five roles will help one to become an effective mentee and reap the benefits of a successful mentoring relationship.

"Great mentors are made by great mentees - they are the yin to each other's yang," says Hughes.

Authors’ Bios

	Dr. Vidhya Thakkar, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at K.J. Somaiya Institute of Management. Career Management, Ancient Indian Mythology, and Storytelling in Management Education are her areas of interest. She is passionate about helping adolescents make informed career choices.
	Khyati Sood is a Management Trainee at Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Limited. She is a passionate HR Professional with an MBA in Human Resources Management. Eager to contribute to organizations by attracting and developing top talent, she is dedicated to continuous learning and staying updated on HR trends.

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