3 Ways to Empower Mentees

Many people in chronic poverty long to be respected, to have their gifts discovered, and to have someone simply listen as they share their goals and dreams. An effective mentoring program can help facilitate this needed support, allowing the poor to move toward a more flourishing life. How do you ensure, though, that your program promotes respectful relationships and affirms each individual’s unique assets? Check out these three ideas for empowering your mentees.

1: Consider Mentee-Initiated Matching

When mentorship is one aspect of a larger class or program, it might be appropriate to work with participants as they seek out their own mentor. This may be someone who has informally served that role for them in the past, or someone they respect at work or church. This method works best when the program director has an established relationship with participants so they can dialogue to determine if the suggested mentor is a good fit and how they would approach that conversation.

In addition, try encouraging mentors, as a defined period of mentorship comes to a close, to help the mentee think through who in his life might be able to serve as an informal mentor going forward.

Supporting an individual as he makes this decision and initiates the conversation helps reinforce the fact that he can, in fact, make positive changes in his own life.

2: Train Mentees

While mentor training is pretty universal, training mentees is just as important! These trainings often focus on evaluating one’s life, seeking out areas for transformation, and developing goals. 

Mentee preparation might take the form of a 12-week class, one training session, or simply a packet of questions to fill out before meeting with a mentor the first time.

Training mentees in simple budgeting or creating SMART goals can help them maintain ownership of their growth. Then, when they enter the mentoring relationship, the mentee is the main actor in creating goals, while the mentor assumes the supporting role.  (Network Members: You can learn more about SMART Goals in the TC Takeaways video of the same name.)

3: Have Both Parties Set Goals

Everyone has goals. Whether growth looks like staying off of drugs, reconnecting with a spouse, or losing 15 pounds, we all are striving to live a more full life. 

When both the mentor and the mentee set goals, checking in each week or month feels less like grading homework, and more like shared accountability. This mutuality fosters the respect and encouragement that is essential for true relationships.

As you pair individuals with mentors or add mentorship to an existing program, remember, mentees aren’t recipients of a service, but rather, members of a community. Each person brings unique gifts to the table, and it is our honor to help them discover and make the most of those gifts.

Inspired to start your own mentoring program? There are more ideas where these came from! True Charity Network members, check out for our Mentoring Model Action Plan. The detailed plan, tools like applications and trainings, and tips from mentoring program directors will help you develop a ministry that fosters real relationships. 

Not a member yet? Explore Model Action Plans here. 

This article is just the tip of the iceberg for the practical resources available through the True Charity Network. Check out all of the ways the network can help you learn, connect, and influence here.

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