Foundations of Mentoring:
Building Trust and Aligning Expectations
Research repeatedly shows that constructive mentoring relationships have a positive impact on student and faculty success. But despite significant and important institutional commitments to launch and maintain formalized mentoring programs, many in higher education–both in mentor and mentee roles–still find themselves lacking the necessary skills to cultivate healthy mentoring dynamics. The session invites members of the university community to reflect on what understandings and skills they need to set expectations and build trust, key aspects of laying the groundwork for positive mentoring relationships.
The session is adaptable for a wide variety of audiences including faculty (in mentor or mentee roles, graduate students and academic leaders. The session can be offered in person in 60, 90, or 120 minute versions. It will be available at U-M across the Fall 2026 term, and available for travel by request, depending on the Players capacity.
In this session, participants will:
- Identify bidirectional challenges created by misaligned mentoring expectations as well as strategies for aligning expectations.
- Explore dimensions of professional trust and associated strategies for building trust across difference.
- Consider the way that “heroic commitments” can damage well-being and undermine trust within mentoring relationships.
about our own experiences.
from the attendees.
audience to bring up their questions and concerns.
practice some ideas on that same day.
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