Mentee Leadership
Mentee Requirements of this Program
Mentor Requirements of this Program
Initiating a Mentor-Mentee Relationship
Mentor Characteristics

Mentoring requires skills in listening, asking guiding questions, and inspiring. The mentors in this database have been identified as having those qualities. Each mentor has applied and provided 2-3 references that attest to the skills and qualifications of the mentor. Click here for more information on the process for becoming a mentor through the Wisconsin Public Health Mentor Program.

Mentee Leadership

Finding a mentor and maintaining a mentor-mentee relationship will take initiative on the part of both the mentor and mentee, particularly the mentee. The mentee is the initiator of the relationship, and takes leadership in goal-setting, scheduling, and related activities.

Supervisors and employees should not embark on a mentor-mentee relationship. There are inherent power differentials and conflicts of interest in such a relationship.

Mentee Requirements of this Program

This program was designed to be self-directed and streamlined. Much of the information in this site is based on best practices, and thus some minimum requirements have been set. The following eligibility requirements must be met prior to a mentee’s participation in the program:

A mentee is someone who is currently working in public health and/or studying an advanced degree in public health and is seeking to advance their career
Watch a video (Course ID # 1014620) or read a document that outlines key concepts in mentor-mentee relationships.

Once paired, we request that you:

Complete a goal form.
Complete a partnership agreement.
Participate in a closing debrief with WPHA staff.

Completion of other forms and templates is highly valued and recommended, but not mandatory. Mentors and mentees are encouraged to use the resources that are available through this site.

Mentor Requirements of this Program

Has been working in public health for at least 5 years.
- Provide a signed release to post mentor information to potential mentee or on website.
Provide at least 2 references that attest to the mentor’s ability to listen and provide knowledgeable guidance. A mentee is someone who is currently working in public health and/or studying an advanced degree in public health and is seeking to advance their career
Watch a video (Course ID # 1014620) or read a document that outlines key concepts in mentor-mentee relationships.

Once paired, we request that you:

Complete a goal form.
Complete a partnership agreement.
Participate in a closing debrief with WPHA staff.

Initiating a Mentor-Mentee Relationship

(Note: an overview of the entire process can be found here.)

As with any relationship, the mentor-mentee relationship will have a beginning, a middle and an end. Here are some suggestions for initiating a mentor-mentee relationship.

It is incumbent upon the mentee to initiate and lead the relationship process. Thus, the mentee is responsible for setting up the first meeting, assuring both parties are clear on their expectations, developing and discussing goals, discussing parameters, proposing a relationship time frame, and proposing how to evaluate the relationship. These are all completed with the mentor, however, the mentee initiates the processes.
As you (mentee) review the database, consider what your goals and priorities for the mentor-mentee relationship. Is it skill development? Is it career navigation? Is it bureaucracy navigation? Being clear on your expectations will you identify a potential mentor.
Identify an individual who appears to have the background, qualifications and skills you are looking for to meet your goals.
Contact that individual and have a “no pressure” meeting to determine if the mentor-mentee relationship will work with this individual.
If the pairing does not work out, contact another individual from the mentor list.
Once you have established that you and the mentor would like to enter into a mentor-mentee relationship, it is helpful to set up some parameters, such as: meeting frequency; meeting type (e.g., phone, email, in-person); length of relationship. By putting these in writing, both individuals will be clear about the expectations for them. A partnership agreement template can be found here.
Prepare for the first meeting with some advance materials, such as a resume/CV, proposed goal statements and timeframes, etc.
Together identify the frequency of your meetings, and the mechanism of those meetings (e.g., phone, face-to-face, email, etc.).
Agree to a “no-fault” ending to the relationship. Identify situations in which this may occur. This not only provides additional insight into what is important to you and the mentor, but it also allows for changes to be honest and clear.
Agree to confidentiality. This is necessary for both parties to maximize their comfort. The specifics of what is kept in confidence can be negotiated between the parties.

There is no prescribed timeframe for mentor-mentee relationships. Some last 6 months, and some last 12 months or even longer. Mentors and mentees identify the amount of time they plan to spend on the relationship each month. It is recommended that mentors and mentees connect at least once a month for at least one hour.

Mentor Characteristics

As you go through the process of identifying a mentor, consider these mentor characteristics:*

Someone who is experienced in the field of public health.
Someone who has a good balance of similarities and differences compared to your strengths and weaknesses.
Someone you respect.
Someone who is patient and has the time to go over career goals.
Someone who encourages, motivates, inspires.
Genuinely likes people and is interested in people.
Communicates well, including active listening.
Someone who is self-confident and doesn’t see the development of others as a threat.
Someone who takes pride in their work and their organization.
Someone who relishes challenges.

* Excerpted from http://healthcareers.about.com/od/advanceyourcareer/qt/FindAMentor.htm and

http://www.stcatlanta.org/mentor/whattolookfor.pdf (link no longer available) accessed January 5, 2009.

Resources for these activities are below:

“Mentoring the Public Health Professional: Mentoring 101” – video presentation of Carol Woltring, MPH, nationally-recognized expert in mentoring and leadership development, at the 2008 WPHA conference, Madison, WI. To access, login to TRAIN; enter title in key word box, or search by Course ID # 1014620; go to registration tab & click on ‘launch.’

Goal Form

Partnership Agreement

Mentoring Guide: A Guide for Mentors (Center for Health Leadership and Practice, A Center of the Public Health Institute)

Mentee Guide: A Guide for Protégés (Center for Health Leadership and Practice, A Center of the Public Health Institute)