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Empathizing, or having rapport, is key in building a successful mentoring partnership. Strong rapport results in effective communication and a mentee open and willing to take the steps needed to effect change in their performance and development. Rarely are we immediately comfortable with someone we have met for the first time.

So how can you maximize the benefits of your personal and professional relationships with one or more mentors? With thanks--and apologies--to David Letterman, below is a top-10 list of tips for a mentoring "tune-up."

This definition structures your mentee role as one of an achiever willing to take the initiative for his/her own development and make the most of available learning opportunities. You are responsible for devoting your time to the mentoring relationship with on-going interaction with your mentor.

In every workplace, you will have difficult coworkers. Dealing with difficult coworkers, bosses, customers, clients, and friends is an art worth perfecting. Dealing with difficult situations at work is challenging, yet rewarding. You can increase your skill at dealing with the difficult people who surround you in your work world. These tips will help you.

Conflict is a normal and natural occurrence of interacting with one another. The cost of resolving conflict is negligible relative to the cost of leaving conflicts unresolved.