How to Mentor

TL;DR - You should volunteer to mentor me, especially in anything to do with programming

Dear Jeff,
Thank you for asking me for advice on how to be a mentor and what makes a good mentor. I am flattered you would reach out to me so directly. [link]

I've been on both sides of great mentoring relationships. Here is some advice:

1. Have regular calls or meetings to force the relationship. Keep your own internal notes to prep for the next call. I like once a quarter, but monthly works too.  
2. Provide two or three questions to your protege before the call in case 'they have no topics'. Even if you don't talk about the questions, it primes the pump for other conversations. 
3. Be their advocate, be their sponsor, be their mentor. 
4. Have fun. (This is the hardest one for me)
5. Watch Susan Colantuono's "The career advice you probably didn't get" [link]
6. Look for cross mentoring opportunities. I currently* have a mentor relationship with a technical peer. They help me with technology questions. I help them with management questions. (Ironically, it started to naturally wane at about the 12 month mark. Now we act more like BFFs )
7. Think about your replacement. I like to mentor someone for 12 to 18 months and then look to connect them with one of my peers who can help in other areas.

 I hope this short list helped you as you begin your role as mentor. Please let me know if you have any questions or additional advice for me.

Cheers,
Ginny

PS>  If you have read my blog you know I always like to end with music. In honor of your home state here is Josh Berwanger Band 'Mary'