Mentorship

At Level 1, mentorship starts with being mentorable. You're open to feedback, eager to learn from others, and willing to share what you know—especially with peers or newer teammates. You don't need to be an expert to support others. Sometimes, offering encouragement, pairing on a task, or sharing a recent learning is the most valuable thing you can do. You begin to see mentorship not as a title, but as a mindset of helping others grow.

Key Behaviors

  • Welcomes and seeks out feedback
  • Shares helpful tips, resources, or context with peers
  • Paired programming or collaborative work with a learning mindset
  • Encourages teammates and asks good clarifying questions
  • Passes along things they've just learned to others newer to the team

Common Struggles

  • May feel too junior to mentor others
  • Can hesitate to share for fear of being wrong
  • Might default to receiving help without offering it

Success Indicators

You know you're successful when you:

  • Actively engage in your own learning and growth
  • Support others informally by sharing your experience
  • Create a positive, encouraging environment for questions and exploration
  • Begin to develop your own point of view around what good mentorship looks like

Mindset Shift

From:

"I need help figuring things out."

To:

"I can help others while learning too."

Questions to Ask Yourself

  • What did I learn recently that could help someone else?
  • Who might benefit from a quick check-in or word of encouragement?
  • What questions do I ask that prompt good discussions?

Build These Habits

  • 1
    Practice explaining what you've learned
  • 2
    Pair regularly with people at different experience levels
  • 3
    Reflect on what mentorship moments have helped you the most

Seek Feedback

  • "Was that explanation helpful?"
  • "Is there a better way I could've supported you?"
  • "What did you find useful (or confusing) when we worked together?"

Signals You're Ready to Level Up

  • You're regularly contributing to someone else's learning
  • Others come to you with questions or for peer support
  • You feel more confident helping others grow

Focus Summary

  • Be curious
  • Be generous
  • Share what you're learning

At Level 1, mentorship is less about being wise and more about being willing. Helping someone else grow often helps you grow too.