Building Trust
One of the primary goals of mentoring students is building trust with them. Without their trust, your impact in their lives will never reach it’s full potential. Building trust takes time, but it’s worth the investment. So, don’t be discouraged when you don’t see “results” right away. It’s important to go into a mentoring relationship with a long-term perspective. Here are three ways you can build trust with your student:
- Be consistent…just showing up every week on time builds trust, especially with students who don’t see that consistency modeled to them by the adults in their homes.
- Be present…don’t bring your own distractions with you and make sure to give your student your full attention. Students will trust you when you make them feel valued and known.
- Be patient…remember the long-term perspective. Don’t be quick to judge or quick to fix your student. Be quick to listen and slow to speak.
Written by Jason, BTO Mentor
