User Guides

Back to all Guides
4. Drive Active Relationships
12 more guides
22 mins

How to Give and Receive Feedback

Download as PDF

The objective of feedback is to help your mentee learn and improve, and not to criticize them. Done well, feedback can:

  1. Enhance communication and trust.
  2. Clarify expectations, and help partners be more open and honest about what each expects of the other.
  3. Increase engagement and commitment, so both mentoring partners feel they have a stake in the journey.
    ‍

Giving productive feedback

Feedback needs to be consistent and constructive. Here are some tips on how to give productive feedback. 

  • Permission: Ask permission before giving feedback.
  • Intention: Question your intentions. Why are you giving this feedback? Will it help your mentoring partner learn?
  • Be specific: Provide tangible examples of behavior you have observed. Discuss its impact.
  • Frequency: Give feedback frequently when it is still actionable.
  • Positive: Also focus on positive feedback. What’s going well? 
  • Two-way discussion: Allow your mentoring partner to respond and think about what they are saying. Discuss ways to move forward and potential solutions. 
    ‍

Receiving feedback

How you receive feedback is also important. Be sure to listen and think carefully about feedback. Here are some suggestions:

  • Listen: Listen attentively to what is being said. Don’t begin to plan how you will respond, and tuning out what is being said.
  • Be open to feedback: Try to have an open mind, and be willing to change your behavior if necessary. 
  • Reflect: Reflect back to your mentoring partner what you have heard to ensure you understand it clearly. Ask any questions. 
  • Two-way discussion: Together, discuss potential solutions so you can move things forward. 
  • Appreciate: Thank or recognize your mentoring partner for what they have shared with you.

Did you find this guide helpful?

Yes
No

Up Next

Sample Agenda for a Regular Mentoring Meeting

This structured agenda is based on MentorCloud’s “best practices”.
step_4
xyz_mr_mee
0
1 min

This structured agenda is based on MentorCloud’s “best practices” learned from working with many companies across the globe. It will help your mentoring meetings be productive and successful.

The recommended time is 60 minutes. 

‍

1. Feedback And Update (10 minutes)

  • Reminder on the importance of confidentiality and respect.
  • Update on what has happened since the last meeting. Refer to Notes from last meeting.
  • Feedback from the mentee and mentor on their progress regarding Tasks, Goals and  the action plan.
    ‍

2. Discussion (40 minutes)

  • Discussion points to be presented by the mentee.
  • Questions asked by mentors to clarify the issues or challenges.
  • Guided discussion on how to address challenges. 
  • Options to address challenges going forward.
  • Mentor can share experience or advice if the mentee requests it.
    ‍

3. Close (10 minutes)

  • New action plan for mentees.
  • Update Goals, Tasks and add any new Notes
  • New action points for mentors.
  • Preparation for the next meeting: venue, date and time?

When you create a Session, there is an option for your to write down an Agenda. It is best to plan ahead and have a few points of discussion written down for the next meeting.

MentorCloud Inc, 90, Middlefield Road,
Menlo Park, CA 94025 USA
DisclaimerPrivacyLegalGDPR ComplianceSitemap
Made Possible by
Become