Tip #1: Be consistent
Now is the time to reach out to your mentee. Making time to connect regularly is a powerful example of commitment and care. Your mentee won’t forget how it made them feel. Videoconferencing is best, phone is good and email, chat or messaging work if time is tight or if that’s all you can muster.
Tip #2: Checking-in counts
These are unprecedented times. Checking in to see how your mentee is doing is vital. The psychosocial functions- encouragement, support, care, empathy, understanding, acknowledging – are particularly important in uncertain times. Listening deeply creates the space for the mentee to feel seen and heard. (For a deeper dive see When Mentoring Meets Coaching chapter 3, pp. 62-72)
Tip #3: Be present and listen deeply
It all starts here. Our capacity to be fully present serves to anchor all of the other mentor-coaching skills, given that our capacity to be fully present determines our capacity to connect, for listening deeply and asking impactful questions. (For a deeper dive see When Mentoring Meets Coaching chapter 5)
Tip #4: Move back from your camera
Being able to observe body language, by not sitting so close to the camera, supports deeper listening and congruent communication. Having a bigger view, so the mentee can see your upper body, helps them achieve synchrony and bond with you (Thompson, 2020; Nguyen, 2007).
Tip #5: Speak more emotively
Bring your energy and passion to your virtual mentor-coaching sessions. Being open, responsive, expressive and emotive helps engage and deepen connection.
Tip #6: Walking session
Trust and social cohesion are fragile and grow slowly when we’re only communicating online. When and where possible, creating opportunities for a socially distant walking mentor-coaching session or meeting with no agenda for a hot-chocolate to-go can help to build bonds that make remote collaboration richer (Thompson, 2020).
Tip #7: Open office hours
Pick an hour on the calendar weekly or biweekly. Your mentee(s) can submit a question in advance or simply use it as an opportunity to check in. Office hours are a great way to connect in spontaneous and unstructured conversation. Side benefit – can reduce the need for some scheduled meetings.