--- title: What Do Mentors Do that Matters? | Search Institute description: Sometimes we think of mentors narrowly as those who sign up through a formal program to spend time with a young person. In addition to these formal mentors, informal or everyday mentors can be any trustworthy adult who offers support, guidance, and encouragement to help young people overcome challenges and become their best selves. What [...] --- Theme + Migration = $1489 (Pay for the Theme Only). 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[![hlogo](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hs-fs/hubfs/hlogo.webp?width=187&height=90&name=hlogo.webp "hlogo")](https://searchinstitute.org) [![hlogo](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hs-fs/hubfs/hlogo.webp?width=187&height=90&name=hlogo.webp "hlogo")](https://searchinstitute.org) - BLOG - SHOP - DONATE - CONTACT - [RESEARCH](https://searchinstitute.org/research) - [SOLUTIONS](https://searchinstitute.org/solutions) - [INSIGHTS](https://searchinstitute.org/insights) - [FUNDERS & PARTNERS](https://searchinstitute.org/funders-partners) - [ABOUT](https://searchinstitute.org/about) [![hlogo](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hs-fs/hubfs/hlogo.webp?width=187&height=90&name=hlogo.webp "hlogo")](https://searchinstitute.org) - [RESEARCH](https://searchinstitute.org/research) - [SOLUTIONS](https://searchinstitute.org/solutions) - [INSIGHTS](https://searchinstitute.org/insights) - [FUNDERS & PARTNERS](https://searchinstitute.org/funders-partners) - [ABOUT](https://searchinstitute.org/about) - [RESOURCE HUB](https://searchinstitute.org/resources-hub) # Blog January 04, 2016 1 Minute Read By : [searchinstitute](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/author/searchinstitute) Topics Developmental Relationships Research Developmental Assets Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Youth Programs Provide Support Family Engagement Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) SI Spotlight Social Capital Share Power Solutions Youth Thriving Education / School Expand Possibilities Student Voice Challenge Growth Summer Scholars Thriving Youth Voice Express Care Sparks Data Insights Faith Field Partner Spotlight LGBTQ+ Workshops Relationship Ready Schools Conversation Starters Sports Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) # What Do Mentors Do that Matters? 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By [searchinstitute](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/author/searchinstitute) January 03 2016 1 Minute Read Sometimes we think of mentors narrowly as those who sign up through a formal program to spend time with a young person. In addition to these formal mentors, informal or everyday mentors can be any trustworthy adult who offers support, guidance, and encouragement to help young people overcome challenges and become their best selves. **What specific actions can adults take in their relationships with young people that help youth learn, grow, and thrive?** [Search Institute’s newest research on developmental relationships](https://www.search-institute.org/research/developmental-relationships) identifies five essential actions that lay the foundation for a powerful mentoring relationship: 1. **Express Care:** Young people value relationships with adults who show they genuinely like them and want the best for them. These relationships help youth know they really matter. 2. **Challenge Growth:** Young people value relationships with adults who insist that they do their best to learn and improve. 3. **Provide Support:** Young people value relationships with adults who offer tangible, appropriate feedback and guidance in completing tasks and achieving goals–without taking over and doing it for them. 4. **Share Power:** Young people value relationships with adults in which they feel their voice is heard and they share in making decisions that affect them. This helps youth develop self-confidence and self-direction. 5. **Expand Possibility:** Young people value trustworthy adults who help them broaden their horizons and connect them to opportunities for growth and discovery. When youth have strong relationships with trusted adults in addition to their parents, they are more able to overcome challenges, engage in school, and thrive in life. ![Great Mentor’s Collection](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/great-mentors-collection_1-1-2.png?width=150&height=175&name=great-mentors-collection_1-1-2.png "Great Mentor’s Collection")**This month is National Mentoring Month and we are recognizing these important relationships in young people’s lives with a [15 percent discount\* on all mentoring resources](https://www.searchinstitutestore.org/category_s/181.htm) **in the Search Institute Store**. [Visit now >>](https://www.search-institute.org/shop/)** P.S. If your school or organization does not have an ongoing relationship with a local mentoring program, you can find potential partners through [MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership](http://www.mentoring.org). This national network can connect you to formal mentoring programs in your community. \*Discount automatically applied at checkout. #### searchinstitute Author ## Recommended For You [![](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Mentors-as-Social-Capital-Builders.jpg)](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/mentors-as-social-capital-builders) [Developmental Assets](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/tag/developmental-assets) [Social Capital](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/tag/social-capital) 3 Min Read ### [Mentors as Social Capital Builders](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/mentors-as-social-capital-builders) [Search Institute June 23 2024](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/author/search-institute) 1 Min Read ### [Developing Trust in Your Mentoring Relationship](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/developing-trust-mentoring-relationship) [searchinstitute January 29 2014](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/author/searchinstitute) 2 Min Read ### [The Life Cycle of Mentoring Relationships](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/life-cycle-mentoring-relationships) [searchinstitute January 21 2014](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/author/searchinstitute) ![search-footerlogo](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hubfs/search-footerlogo.png "search-footerlogo") ## Search Institute 2550 University Avenue West Suite 200N St. Paul, MN 55114 800.888.7828 612.376.8955 i[nfo@searchinstitute.org](mailto:info@searchinstitute.org) - [Research](https://searchinstitute.org/research) - [Solutions](https://searchinstitute.org/solutions) - [Insights](https://searchinstitute.org/insights) - [Funders & Partners](https://searchinstitute.org/funders-partners) - [About](https://searchinstitute.org/about) - [Blog](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/) - [Donate](https://searchinstitute.org/donate) - [Contact](https://searchinstitute.org/contact) - [Subscribe to our Newsletter](https://searchinstitute.org/subscribe-to-our-enewsletter) - [Cancellations, Returns & Refunds](https://searchinstitute.org/cancellations-returns-refunds) - [Public Records](https://searchinstitute.org/nonprofit-status-public-records) - [Permissions Request Form](https://survey.search-institute.org/s3/Permissions-Request-Form) - [Keep Connected](http://keepconnected.searchinstitute.org/) ©2024 Search Institute | [Terms of Use](https://www.search-institute.org/terms-of-use/) Search Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable corporation. 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