Mentoring works; but how?
There as about as many definitions of mentoring and its differences or similarities to coaching as there are mentors and coaches. Many would say that they are the same or a least cannot be clearly separated. What one can say is that having someone to talk to about issues that matter to you can make a huge difference. As to what works best in this regard, I have tried to sum up 12 key characteristics of mentoring:
1. Good mentoring is purposeful: we do not just sit down for a chat when we mentor. We are there to help address a cause of stress or uncertainty; a lack of knowhow or resolution. Time is being taken so let it be used constructively. The first stage of mentoring must be to agree what the purpose is. In almost …show more content…
A good mentor shares experience and hindsight: Story-telling is a valuable element in mentoring. Where it is based on the mentor's background, it both strengthens the bond of confidence between the pair and enables the mentor to pass on the benefits of their experience and lessons learned without recommendation or advice. Questions like: "how else might I have approached this?" may draw conclusions from the mentee. Further evidence of a mentor's experience may be found in their contacts database and market knowledge, which should be made available to the mentee by signposting resources for their own further …show more content…
A good mentor challenges constructively: the trusted and open relationship between mentor and mentee should encourage frankness. The agenda being that of the mentee means that it is a duty of the mentor, where seeing the need, to challenge them as to their assessment of themselves, their options, their competence and not simply to nod through their opinions.
11. Good mentoring leads to better decisions: The increased skill; awareness of options; contacts sign-posted and confidence imbued via mentoring should all contribute to a mentee being able to make better decisions in the subject areas covered than hitherto.
12. Good mentoring leads to action: if mentoring is to be purposeful and effective for the mentee, it must surely not only define actions desirable but actually entail their execution. The mentee must not only know what to do and how to do it but be motivated to do so. For this reason mentoring should not be terminated before action has been taken; and may lead to it being measurable or valued, by its
There as about as many definitions of mentoring and its differences or similarities to coaching as there are mentors and coaches. Many would say that they are the same or a least cannot be clearly separated. What one can say is that having someone to talk to about issues that matter to you can make a huge difference. As to what works best in this regard, I have tried to sum up 12 key characteristics of mentoring:
1. Good mentoring is purposeful: we do not just sit down for a chat when we mentor. We are there to help address a cause of stress or uncertainty; a lack of knowhow or resolution. Time is being taken so let it be used constructively. The first stage of mentoring must be to agree what the purpose is. In almost …show more content…
A good mentor shares experience and hindsight: Story-telling is a valuable element in mentoring. Where it is based on the mentor's background, it both strengthens the bond of confidence between the pair and enables the mentor to pass on the benefits of their experience and lessons learned without recommendation or advice. Questions like: "how else might I have approached this?" may draw conclusions from the mentee. Further evidence of a mentor's experience may be found in their contacts database and market knowledge, which should be made available to the mentee by signposting resources for their own further …show more content…
A good mentor challenges constructively: the trusted and open relationship between mentor and mentee should encourage frankness. The agenda being that of the mentee means that it is a duty of the mentor, where seeing the need, to challenge them as to their assessment of themselves, their options, their competence and not simply to nod through their opinions.
11. Good mentoring leads to better decisions: The increased skill; awareness of options; contacts sign-posted and confidence imbued via mentoring should all contribute to a mentee being able to make better decisions in the subject areas covered than hitherto.
12. Good mentoring leads to action: if mentoring is to be purposeful and effective for the mentee, it must surely not only define actions desirable but actually entail their execution. The mentee must not only know what to do and how to do it but be motivated to do so. For this reason mentoring should not be terminated before action has been taken; and may lead to it being measurable or valued, by its