A mentoring agreement is a shared document that helps mentors and mentees define expectations before the relationship gets underway. It covers the practical logistics of how you'll work together, what each person hopes to achieve, and a mutual commitment to confidentiality.

Completing one early — ideally in your first meeting — means both people start from the same page and can focus on the work rather than the admin. All fields are optional, but the more you fill in, the clearer and more productive the relationship tends to be.

Download the Mentoring Agreement PDF

Why Should Mentors and Mentees Use a Mentoring Agreement?

Without a shared agreement, small misalignments can quietly derail a mentoring relationship — mismatched expectations about how often to meet, who's responsible for driving the agenda, or what's considered confidential. A mentoring agreement surfaces these early, when they're easy to resolve.

It also gives the mentee something concrete to prepare before the first meeting, which sets a productive tone from the start.

What Does the Mentoring Agreement Cover?

The agreement is organised into three sections to discuss the logistical foundations of the relationship:

• Frequency of communication — How often will you meet? Fortnightly, monthly, and quarterly are all common cadences depending on the program length and both parties' availability.
• Type of communication — Will you meet in person, virtually, or both? Which tools will you use — Mentorloop, email, phone? Agreeing on this upfront avoids unnecessary back-and-forth.
• Recording of communication — Who will take notes and share a summary after each meeting? Who will update goals and statuses in Mentorloop? We recommend the mentee drives the agenda and follow-up, but every relationship is different.

The Ts & Cs

Confidentiality — Both mentor and mentee agree that sensitive issues discussed in the relationship will be kept confidential. You'll define what counts as sensitive as the relationship develops and flag it with each other as needed. Both parties sign to acknowledge this commitment.

When Should We Complete the Mentoring Agreement?

Bring the agreement to your first meeting and work through it together. You don't need to complete every field; focus on the sections most relevant to how your relationship will work. The goal is to leave your first meeting with a shared understanding of expectations, not a perfectly filled-out form.

If anything changes as the relationship progresses - goals shift, meeting frequency changes - revisit the agreement and update it.

How Do I Access the Mentoring Agreement in Mentorloop?

The mentoring agreement is accessible directly from your 1:1 Loop. You can also download the PDF version to fill in ahead of your first meeting and bring it along.