Types of mentoring topics

There is a multitude of topics that can be discussed between a mentor and a mentee to yield helpful
results, even after your initial meetings. The following list reviews a few of these areas to help you
cultivate your own refreshed topics of conversation.
Mentees to mentors
1. Skill-related topics
2. Career story topics
3. Feedback topics
4. Situational advice topics
Mentors to mentees
1. Career path topics
2. Leadership topics
3. Long- and short-term goal topics
4. Company-related topics
Mentees to mentors
1. Skill-related topics
Discussing skill-related topics is a great way to make use of your time with your mentor. Consider bringing
up the skill areas they already possess that you wish you could develop and improve. For example, if you
have just been hired in a managerial role that requires public speaking, of which you have very little
experience, talk with your mentor about your reservations and ask for tips on how to deliver a good
speech.
 How can I improve my public speaking skills?
 What do you think are my three best skills?
 What skill areas do you think I could improve in?
 What skills do you think are the most beneficial for me to have in my current position?
2. Career story topics
Another way to cultivate new mentoring topics is to talk with your mentor about their personal career
journey. Get their insights on what the industry was like when they first started, how they traversed
through the company to the role they currently hold, or what lessons they learned at the start of their
career.
 What was your first industry job?
 How did you reach the position you are currently in?
 Do you have any regrets about your career choices?
 Did you ever make a mistake in a job and how did you come back from it?
Related: 10 Key Strengths to Develop for Career Advancement
3. Feedback topics
Feedback can be used as a constructive method for improvement and for this reason, it is a great topic of
discussion during a meeting with your mentor. To help you grow professionally, you must get your
mentor's insights on your current work performance, a project you managed, a written report or
presentation you gave at a company event.
Allow your mentor to offer you constructive feedback and take notes on what improvements you could
make, as well as what areas you executed well.
 How would you rate my presentation at last week's board meeting?
 Do you think I am ready to apply for an internal promotion?
 How do you think others perceive me in my new role?
 What changes would you make to my memo?
4. Situational advice topics
You can also use the time spent with your mentor to get their perspective on an issue you have been
facing within your professional life. This type of mentoring topic can be used repeatedly to help you
address immediate questions you might have about your job and its responsibilities.
  How should I handle downsizing in my department?
 I am having trouble getting a member of my team to submit assignments on time: how
do I proactively address this?
 How can I inspire my department to meet its quarterly targets?
 How do I ask my boss for a raise?
Read more: Creating a Workplace Mentoring Program: Key Steps and Tips
Mentors to mentees
1. Career path topics
During the first few meetings with your mentee, be sure to ask them questions about their desired career
path and additional questions that make them think about how their current position either does or does
not align with that path.
This can be helpful to your mentee and also help you better understand the guidance and direction they
need. It might become important to further evaluate their desired career path to see if their career goals
change.
 Where do you see yourself in five years?
 What made you apply for this role? How does it align with your long-term plan?
 Are you happy in your current role?
 What is your dream job, or do you feel you've achieved it?
Related: Creating a Workplace Mentoring Program: Key Steps and Tips
2. Leadership topics
If you have a mentee that has recently entered into a leadership position within a company, this can be
used as a topic of discussion to help them cultivate their own unique leadership style and address any
concerns they might have about their new role.
 How are you adjusting to your new role?
 Do you have any reservations about your responsibilities?
 What methods are you using to communicate effectively with your team?
 What are three words you'd use to describe your leadership style?
3. Long- and short-term goal topics
At the start of your professional mentorship, you should discuss your mentee's long- and short-term goals
in their current position. You can also ask them questions about what their ambitions are within the
company. After helping them brainstorm some ideas, work with them to create an individual development
plan (IDP) that addresses a series of career aspirations. You can use this plan to help your mentee
segment their goals into manageable steps.
 What goals do you want to achieve within the next month?
 What quantitative goals do you want to achieve within six months?
 How do you measure your success?
 What other roles would you be interested in within the company?
Related: How to Be a Good Mentor
4. Company-related topics
Talking to your mentee about your company's policies and culture could potentially be a useful topic for
discussion, especially if they are new to the company you work for or want to apply for internal
promotions. Ask them if they have any questions about the company, its values, key stakeholders,
company environment or growth opportunities. This could generate an ongoing conversation and could
help your mentee better understand the company and how to perceive their role within it.
 How would you define the company culture? Does it resonate with you?
 How do you see your role benefiting the company?
 What areas of the company do you think could be improved through your role?