A good mentor never makes a decision for or tells the mentee what to do. A good mentor will have earned the respect of his or her coworkers, the Coast Guard and the community. He or she serves as a teacher, guide, counselor, motivator, sponsor, coach, advisor, referral agent, role model and sometimes a door opener, depending on the mentee's needs at the time. The mentor is concerned with the overall development of the mentee. Helping someone along the path you've traveled can be one of the most satisfying experiences of your career.
Many mentors feel they have gained more from the mentoring relationship than the mentee has.
There has been little written guidance or research to help a mentee contribute to a successful mentoring connection. The new person gains the information they need to get ahead and feel included and valued by the organization. The other is the seasoned employee who already knows the culture but will benefit from a relationship that helps them learn what to do to advance or make a transition in their career. For example, a BM1 may be considering applying for OCS, a GS-8 admin. The mentee has to know and be able to discuss their needs and objectives with their mentor.