MENTORING TOOLS

Document

Your Self-Leadership Score

Building Champions has created an assessment tool that will help you identify the areas you may want to focus on in your mentorship discussions. This assessment is designed to evaluate your level of self-leadership and offer you insights and practical recommendations for enhancing your journey to personal and professional success. Consider taking this in September and use the results to tailor your growth plan.

Take the Assessment →

Ignite Mentorship Agreement

This template helps you and your mentor/mentee clarify goals, define how you'll connect, and commit to making the most of your time together.

Sample Meeting Guide

A flexible guide to keep your meetings focused, intentional, and centered on meaningful growth.

Conversation Starters

Designed to prompt intentional, meaningful dialogue, this list offers a starting point for each month's theme — not a script, but a guide to help you go deeper.

Understanding Vocation

Understanding vocation — and why it matters in your Ignite mentorship.

The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” 

— Frederick Buechner

Conversation Topics

Tips to increase career readiness

Skills development

Interview preparation

How to make your career work for you

Importance of note taking

Demonstrating accountability

Dos and Don'ts of “Managing up”

Review career options

Networking skills

Role of internships

Work-life balance

Employee benefits (what they are and how they work)

Corporate cultures / environments

Faith journey / Faith in the workplace

Self-care in a demanding career

Finding community after college

Pro tips for meetings (as a facilitator and participant)

Managing your paycheck / personal finances

Choosing authenticity to build trust

Tips for becoming a valuable team member

The role of humility in professional advancement

The importance of having fun as a personal discipline

Imposter syndrome (what it is and how to overcome)

Harassment awareness and prevention

Goal setting 101

Stand-out communication skills

Influencing others and shaping work culture

Surprises from your first job

Delivering / receiving constructive feedback

Current / past work projects

Graduate school / professional certifications

Various paths and opportunities within your field

Offer input on a school project

How to negotiate with your hiring manager

Insider tips for preparing a stand-out resumé

The highs and lows of your career

Review their job / internship offer

Take CliftonStrengths together & discuss your results

Choosing between job offers / weighing pros & cons

Types of fields / jobs with different companies

Conduct a mock interview

Professional development

Leveraging failure as a tool for success

The most important thing my Industry Advisor gave me was the confidence to succeed professionally without compromising on my priorities.

Engineering student

Meet-ups between Ignite Industry Mentors and students can take on many forms. Think outside the box.

Meet-Up Ideas

Ignite is an opportunity to help students overcome their limits and guide them to a professional future that is rewarding and fulfilling.

Industry mentor

Book Recommendations

Ignite Mentorship | Recommended Reading & Vocation Books

More Recommended Reading

Let Your Life Speak Listening for the Voice of Vocation — Parker J. Palmer View on Amazon →
The Call Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life — Os Guinness View on Amazon →
Courage and Calling Embracing Your God-Given Potential — Gordon T. Smith View on Amazon →
Every Good Endeavor Connecting Your Work to God's Work — Tim Keller View on Amazon →
Kingdom Calling Vocational Stewardship for the Common Good — Amy L. Sherman View on Amazon →
God At Work Your Christian Vocation in All of Life — Gene Edward Veith Jr. View on Amazon →
The Fabric of Faithfulness Weaving Together Belief and Behavior — Steven Garber View on Amazon →
The Leader's Guide to Storytelling Mastering the Art and Discipline of Business Narrative — Stephen Denning View on Amazon →

Additional Resources

Sabrina Bailey: Reiten Lecture 2023

Sabrina Bailey is an innovative and high-level executive at the London Stock Exchange Group. In this lecture, she discusses leadership in an entirely new way, talking about how success is built. Unlike many presentations you may have heard on management style, career ladders, goal setting, key performance indicators, and the like, Bailey peels back the onion to illuminate unchanging, fundamental factors that secure an unshakable foundation for success highlighting service, humility, authenticity, purpose and education.

Articles for Further Conversation

Additional Conversation Topics

  • Work-Life Balance
  • Financial Management and Compensation
  • Job Search Skills
  • Career Goals and Development
  • Workplace Skills and Professionalism
  • Networking and Relationship Building
  • Leadership and Teamwork
  • Feedback and Self-Improvement
  • Industry Trends and Continuing Education
  • Ethics and Integrity
  • Resilience and Overcoming Adversity
  • Humility and Self-Awareness
  • Work Ethic and Commitment
  • Personal Values and Beliefs
  • Service to Others and Giving Back
  • Overcoming Self-Doubt
    Accountability
  • Building a Supportive Network
  • Celebrating Achievements
  • Strengths and Skill Development
  • Taking Risks and Embracing Failure