EFFECTIVE MENTORING PARTNERSHIPS
How can I make my mentorship work?Effective mentoring relationships are driven by mentorees who have a desire to achieve personal growth and professional goals.
Effective mentoring partnerships do not rely on personalities alone. A range of qualities related to expertise, communication and attitude are important. These include:
Being open
- appreciating and being open to different artforms and perspectives
- ability to receive and to give constructive and honest feedback
- willingness to have a go and try different things
- taking risks
Being respectful
- respect for confidences and intellectual property rights
- respect for other people's time
Being committed
- showing initiative and independence
- being willing to work
Understanding mentoring
- expectation of a peer relationship, not a student/teacher relationship
- acceptance that the mentor is not there to pick you up and finish the project for you
- having faith in your mentor
- willingness to share time with your mentor
Knowing yourself
- good sense of self and personal capabilities
The content on these pages was adapted by Youth Arts Queensland from the publication Getting Connected - Making Your Mentorship Work by Mary Ann Hunter for the Australia Council for the Arts.
To download this publication click here.
SPARK is the Australia Council's national mentoring program for young artists supported by the Dance, Theatre and Community Partnerships Sections. It is managed by Youth Arts Queensland and is part of the Australian Government's Young and Emerging Artists Initiative.
