Dialog Prompts
Here are several conversation "prompts" and "deepeners" to help you in your
meetings with your mentoring partner. Notice that some are questions and others
are statements. Avoid using all questions or your partner will feel as if he/she
is on the witness stand.
On your program application, you mentioned _____. I'd like to know more
about that.
What would make this partnership an excellent experience for you?
What might make it a waste of time?
How should I refer to you and our relationship when I introduce you to others?
Tell me a couple of high points and a couple of challenges in your
day/week/month.
(For high points) What skills, knowledge, or attitudes did you use to help make
this happen?
(For challenges) What part, if any, did you play? Is this part of a larger
challenge you're dealing with?
Are you open to feedback from me? How would you like it? What should I avoid
doing?
Describe how you best like to learn.
I'd love to hear your story.
Tell me some key experiences in your life. What made _____ so important?
What do people say you do best?
What talents are you most proud of?
What makes you laugh?
Tell me about some personal accomplishments that you're proud of.
What was the best working situation you've ever had?
Describe an ideal day for you.
What, if anything, would you like to be different in your life?
What do you hope your life will look like in one to five years?
Describe some key relationships in your life. How have these influenced you?
Who are your two most trusted friends? Why?
If you could do anything at all and money were no problem, what would you love
to do with your life?
What's standing in the way of what you'd like to be or do?
Tell me more.
What keeps you up at night?
What did you feel when you _____?
How would your friends/loved ones describe you?
How would your competitors or critics describe you?
What do you hope to accomplish in the remainder of your life?
Tell me about a conflict you had. How did it turn out? What did you do that was
effective? What wasn't?
What do you wish you had known or done 10 years ago? Earlier than that?
How did you decide to _____?
May I ask your advice about _____?
How do you balance work and the rest of your life?
What would you like people to say about you on your _____ birthday? What do you
hope they'll forget?
For Developing Mentee/Maintaining Momentum:
What part of being a mentee/mentor do you like most? Like least?
What specific goal do you want to set?
How will you know when you reach this goal?
On a scale of 1 to 10, what's the likelihood that you'll do what you agreed to
do?
What's the first step?
When will you start?
When will you complete it?
How could I be a better partner in this relationship?
What have I said or done so far that was helpful?
What wasn't particularly helpful?
I notice that you didn't _____. Is it still a priority?
For a Particular Situation or Dilemma:
How did this situation begin? Can you share some of the story behind what
you're saying (or feeling, or doing)?
Tell me what happened next.
If you _____, what will probably happen? What would you prefer to happen?
What did you feel when you _____?
I'm curious about _____.
Can you tell me more about that? Give me an example.
What if _____ happened?
What does your family think about this?
Are there other ways of looking at this issue?
Are there ways to make the situation different?
What is this situation costing you?
How do other people you admire handle similar situations? What do you think each
of your parents would have done?
Where are you now on this?
Tell me what you mean by _____.
What options do you see? (Help identify several without judging.)
What's getting in the way of progress?
What do you think should come next?
At this point, what matters most to you?
Tell me what we can learn from this.
As you read/experienced _____, did particular thoughts cross your mind?
Describe how this is connected to other events.
Is this a pattern of some kind?
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