Your mentor plays a crucial role in your professional growth, regardless of your field. They guide you along the right path and help elevate your career to the next level. Whether you’re an author, doctor, athlete, or scientist, having a mentor to look up to is essential.
However, simply having a mentor isn’t enough; you must also put in effort on your part. This includes learning from their positive traits, understanding their philosophies, and feeling comfortable asking them anything without hesitation.
When it comes to learning, asking questions is vital. Don’t hesitate to seek guidance from your mentor when you face challenges, struggle to understand something, or experience a dip in performance. Additionally, discuss your future plans and share your thoughts with them openly.
If you’re unsure about what questions to ask your mentor, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. Here, we’ve compiled a list of questions to ask your mentor. Take a look, and use these questions to seek clarity on your dilemmas and doubts.
Also check- Author Interview Questions / OBIEE Interview Questions
Questions To Ask A Mentor
- What’s the most important leadership lesson you’ve learned and how has it proven invaluable?
- How did you develop the skill of speaking so engagingly in front of groups?
- How did you learn to embrace risk-taking?
- Tell me about a recent business setback. How did you recover?
- Think back to five years ago. Did you envision your career as it is today?
- Was there ever a role you applied for and landed, but weren’t 100% qualified to do? How did you proceed?
- What do you wish you had known before taking your first management role?
- Which leadership skills were the most difficult to develop?
- Can you tell me about a time when you had a difficult boss? How did you handle the situation?
- How am I viewed? In other words, what’s my personal brand in our organization?
- Where do you see my strengths?
- What do you see as some of my blind spots and how can I improve?
- How I am viewed by leadership?
- What do people say about me when I’m not in the room?
- Could you offer feedback on ways to improve my executive presence?
- Do I come across as strategic or tactical in my day-to-day communication?
- Am I viewed as high-maintenance when I send my boss weekly status updates?
- How could I have communicated my idea more clearly?
- When I presented at the last meeting, how did I do? Did my communication style support the message I intended to deliver?
Mentoring Questions To Ask
- I tried to delegate a task last week and it did not go well. Can we work through what to do differently next time?
- Who are the people I need to align with in this organization to achieve success?
- My boss said I need to be more strategic. What does that mean?
- How can I let my boss know that I don’t need to be micromanaged?
- How can I stay connected to key influencers who do not work in same office or geographical area?
- When trying to gain buy-in to implement a new program, what tactics have worked for you?
- My performance review is coming up. What type of preparation do you most appreciate seeing from your employees?
- I have two very different career path options available to me. Can you weigh in to help me make a final decision?
- I’m considering a career transition. What are some other areas of the business that might be a good fit for me?
- How can I become a more assertive negotiator?
- Can we role-play asking for a raise and a promotion?
- How can I become better at managing people who do not report to me?
- Do you have any quick tips for re-energizing an overworked team?
- Can you recommend a book or resource for dealing with difficult conversations?
- What practices can you recommend for dealing with nervousness when speaking to groups?
- I have been asked to facilitate a team-building activity at a staff retreat. What are some keys to success?
- What’s a good methodology or tool for project management and tracking team commitments?
- Do you have a template that you use for long-range visioning and strategic planning?
- What new skills do I need to move ahead?
Questions To Ask Mentor About Career Development
- What Can I Do Better?
- What’s One Question You Wish You Asked Earlier?
- What Would You Do if You Were Me?
- What Are You Trying to Accomplish This Quarter?
- What Do You Mean?
- How did you land your current role?
- Think back to five years ago. Did you envision this is where you would be?
- Can you tell me about a time when you had a difficult boss? How did you handle it?
- How did you learn to embrace failure?
- What’s the most important leadership lesson you’ve learned and how is it valuable?
- Tell me about a recent setback and how you recovered?
- What’s One Thing You Would’ve Done Differently?
- What One Thing Do You Still Struggle With?
- How Do You Spend Your Time?
- What Factors Do You Consider Most Often When Planning for the Future?
- What Mistakes Have You Made?
- How Would You Like Me to Follow Up?
- Why Do You Do What You Do?
10 Questions To Ask A Mentee
- Was there ever a job position that you applied for and got, but you weren’t 100% qualified?
- How did you build the skill of always speaking so engagingly in front of others?
- I’m considering a career transition. What do you see as the pros and cons?
- Who are the people I need to align with in this organization to achieve success?
- What advice can you offer on how to progress in my career?
- How do you successfully stay connected to key influencers who do not work in same office or geographical area?
- When trying to gain buy-in to implement a new program, what tactics have worked for you?
- Where do you see my strengths and what should I focus on to improve?
- What do you see as some of my blind spots?
- How do you think others perceive me?
Fun Questions To Ask Your Mentor
- Are you old fashioned?
- What is your number one priority?
- Would you risk making a mistake?
- What is your life’s biggest achievement?
- If money were no object would you be working now?
- What are you grateful for?
- When do you not want to be interrupted?
- If you could do it all over again, would you change anything?
- What would you do with 15 minutes of fame?
- Name the worst job you can think of.
- Can you prepare to be spontaneous?
- If you were given an opportunity to change careers, would you?
- What song do you always sing along with?
- Do you have any regrets in life?
- How are things at home?
- What did your mom say to you when you were in trouble?
- What makes a good mentee?
- Did you ever wish you were someone else?
- Have you won any awards?
- Who was your favorite President?
- What do you wish you had asked your mentor?
- What advice do you have for the next generation?
- What was your first impression of me?
- How did you land where you are today?
- Is this where you thought you would be at this point of your life?
- Who are the people that have made the biggest difference in your career?
- What personal values drove you to your current role?
- What has been the proudest moment of your career?
- Is there anything you’ve had to give up in order to get where you are today?
- How do you approach risk in your career?
- What is the hardest thing you’ve had to do to get where you are?
- What unexpected obstacles have come up in your career?
- What is the toughest feedback you’ve ever received?
- What role has education played in your career?
- What is the biggest mistake you’ve ever made?
- At what point did you start to feel like you were making it in your career?
- What does success look like to you?
- How has your definition of success transformed over your career?
- In your career, what has been the thing you’ve been most surprised to learn?
- What is one thing people would be surprised to learn about your career path?
- What do you wish you knew 10 years ago?
- What are some of the most important lessons you’ve learned so far?
- What has been the hardest lesson for you to learn?
- What are the best parts of your day to day work?
- In your work, are there any parts of your day do you dread?
- How do you approach work-life balance?
- What role has creativity played in your career?
- What is the most exciting thing you’ve ever worked on?
- What else do you want to accomplish in your own career?
- What do you envision for your own next career move?
- If you were me, what questions would you be asking you?
Conclusion –
These are some of the most popular questions to ask mentors, covering a range of topics suitable for everyone. Choose the questions that intrigue you the most and ask your mentor. Their answers are sure to provide valuable insights and guidance that can benefit you in various ways.
