Mentoring is the ability to guide and support employees in their personal and professional growth. It involves providing guidance and advice to help mentees develop their skills, knowledge, and confidence. Effective mentors are able to create a safe and supportive environment where employees can explore their strengths and weaknesses, develop concrete plans for achieving their goals, and receive constructive feedback on their progress. Mentoring requires strong communication and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to listen actively and provide guidance that is tailored to the mentee’s goals and needs. Mentors should also be able to inspire and motivate their mentees to achieve their full potential.

Questions to determine someone’s performance rating for mentoring skills:

1. Did the employee provide effective guidance and support to their mentees?
2. Did the employee demonstrate a deep understanding of their mentees’ goals and needs?
3. Did the employee create a safe and supportive environment for their mentees to explore their strengths and weaknesses?
4. Did the employee help their mentees develop concrete plans for achieving their goals?
5. Did the employee regularly check in with their mentees to ensure they were making progress and provide constructive feedback?

Based on the answers to these questions, you can assign a rating that accurately reflects the employee’s performance in the specific skill of mentoring. It’s important to provide specific examples to support your rating and to offer constructive feedback on areas where the employee can improve.

Related: Best Performance Review Examples for 48 Key Skills

2000+ Performance Review Phrases: The Complete List (Performance Feedback Examples)

Mentoring Skills Performance Review Phrases and Paragraphs Examples

5 – Outstanding

Example Phrases

1. Provides exceptional guidance and support to mentees.
2. Demonstrates a deep understanding of the mentee’s goals and needs.
3. Creates a safe and supportive environment for mentees to explore their strengths and weaknesses.
4. Helps mentees develop concrete plans for achieving their goals.
5. Regularly checks in with mentees to ensure they are making progress and provides constructive feedback.

Example Paragraph

“John is an outstanding mentor who consistently goes above and beyond to support his mentees. He takes the time to truly understand their goals and needs, and creates a safe and supportive environment where they can explore their strengths and weaknesses. John helps his mentees develop concrete plans for achieving their goals and regularly checks in with them to ensure they are making progress. He provides constructive feedback that helps his mentees grow and develop in meaningful ways.”

4 – Exceeds Expectations

Example Phrases

1. Provides excellent guidance and support to mentees.
2. Demonstrates a good understanding of the mentee’s goals and needs.
3. Creates a supportive environment for mentees to explore their strengths and weaknesses.
4. Helps mentees develop plans for achieving their goals.
5. Regularly checks in with mentees to ensure they are making progress and provides feedback.

Example Paragraph

“Sarah exceeds expectations as a mentor by providing excellent guidance and support to her mentees. She demonstrates a good understanding of their goals and needs, and creates a supportive environment where they can explore their strengths and weaknesses. Sarah helps her mentees develop plans for achieving their goals and regularly checks in with them to ensure they are making progress. She provides feedback that helps them improve and grow.”

3 – Meets Expectations

Example Phrases

1. Provides guidance and support to mentees.
2. Demonstrates a basic understanding of the mentee’s goals and needs.
3. Creates a supportive environment for mentees.
4. Helps mentees develop plans for achieving their goals.
5. Checks in with mentees to ensure they are making progress.

Example Paragraph

“Tom meets expectations as a mentor by providing guidance and support to his mentees. He demonstrates a basic understanding of their goals and needs, and creates a supportive environment where they can explore their strengths and weaknesses. Tom helps his mentees develop plans for achieving their goals and checks in with them to ensure they are making progress.”

2 – Needs Improvement

Example Phrases

1. Provides limited guidance and support to mentees.
2. Demonstrates a limited understanding of the mentee’s goals and needs.
3. Does not create a supportive environment for mentees to explore their strengths and weaknesses.
4. Does not help mentees develop concrete plans for achieving their goals.
5. Rarely checks in with mentees to ensure they are making progress.

Example Paragraph

“Emily needs improvement in her mentoring skills. She provides limited guidance and support to her mentees, and demonstrates a limited understanding of their goals and needs. Emily does not create a supportive environment for mentees to explore their strengths and weaknesses, and does not help them develop concrete plans for achieving their goals. She rarely checks in with them to ensure they are making progress.”

1 – Unacceptable

Example Phrases

1. Does not provide guidance or support to mentees.
2. Demonstrates no understanding of the mentee’s goals and needs.
3. Creates a hostile or unsupportive environment for mentees.
4. Does not help mentees develop plans for achieving their goals.
5. Does not check in with mentees to ensure they are making progress.

Example Paragraph

“Michael’s mentoring skills are unacceptable. He does not provide any guidance or support to his mentees, and demonstrates no understanding of their goals and needs. Michael creates a hostile and unsupportive environment for mentees, and does not help them develop plans for achieving their goals. He does not check in with them to ensure they are making progress, and does not provide any feedback to help them improve.”