Set clear goals

In the history of mentorship programs, many mentees have taken home learnings for a lifetime, while a few have been left unchanged or unmoved. What causes this difference? Mentorship requires a high level of self-motivation, and this motivation can only arise when clear goals have been set.

There are no set outcomes that each mentee will experience. Each outcome is as unique as the needs and aspirations of the individuals themselves. Therefore, these things have to be defined before the program starts.

Different people may have different expectations from a mentorship program. Some examples of goals include: landing a design job, switching career paths from writing to design, improving design skills, learning the best practices of the industry, honing communication and negotiation skills, or building a design portfolio and resume. Having clear goals allows your mentor to gain more clarity on the areas in which you need help.^[1]