Mentees, Make Listening Your First Priority

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It might be tempting to use your mentoring sessions to impress your mentor — someone who can potentially advance your career. But, most mentors are put off by protégés who do more self-promoting than learning. Listen to your mentor, show humility, and make it clear that you take the counsel seriously. When you get feedback, don’t respond with, “Yes, I already knew that.” Restate the advice in your own words to make sure you’ve got it right, and ask questions to clarify. Mentors will often test you by gauging how you respond to feedback; and the better you are at receiving it, the more of it you will get.

Adapted from Guide to Getting the Mentoring You Need.