Time is a scarce resource for senior leaders. Your diary is full, demands are constant and your attention is stretched across board priorities, operational matters and strategic work. It is sensible to ask how mentoring fits alongside those responsibilities and what commitment is required.
Executive mentoring should not add pressure. It should create space for clearer thinking, stronger direction and better decisions.
Typical time commitment
Most senior leaders commit to one or two focused sessions per month.
A standard session lasts around ninety minutes. This allows enough depth to work through strategic issues, leadership challenges and upcoming decisions without rushing.
Between sessions you may choose to have brief check ins, particularly when working through time sensitive decisions or preparing for key conversations. These are short, structured and optional.
The commitment is steady, not heavy.
Why the time investment pays back quickly
The time spent in mentoring is often returned many times over through
• Greater clarity and fewer distractions
• Faster decision making
• Better use of your leadership team
• Reduced time spent firefighting
• More confident planning and communication
Mentoring frees time by reducing noise, not adding to it.
Leaders often comment that the clarity they gain in ninety minutes saves hours across the month.
Preparation and between session work
Preparation is simple. Bring your current priorities and decisions. There is no requirement for long prework or detailed documents unless you want to share context.
Between sessions you apply the insights in your leadership and decision making. The work happens in your day, not in separate assignments.
This keeps the process practical, grounded and sustainable.
Flexibility around your schedule
Executive roles move fast. Diary changes happen. A professional mentoring relationship flexes with that reality. If you are entering a board cycle, major negotiation or period of intense activity, you may prefer shorter but more frequent touch points. At quieter times, deeper sessions may be more valuable.
The rhythm adapts to your leadership needs, not the other way round.
How soon results appear
Many leaders notice an immediate benefit.
A clearer mind, sharper priorities and a calmer sense of direction often appear after the first session or two. As you progress, thinking strengthens, habits settle and organisational effects compound.
The impact does not rely on long hours.
It relies on quality of focus.
Viewing mentoring as protected leadership time
Think of mentoring not as an extra task but as a dedicated leadership space.
A time to step out of the noise, think ahead and ensure your decisions align with what matters most. This protects long term direction and reduces reactionary decision making.
When you protect thinking time, you protect performance.
Final thought
The time commitment for mentoring is small in comparison with the clarity, focus and confidence it creates. Senior leaders do not need more activity. They need better thinking and stronger perspective.
Ninety minutes spent with intention each month gives you back far more in improved leadership pace, reduced pressure and stronger strategic direction.
It is not about fitting mentoring into your time. It is about finding time to lead at your best.