Mentoring

Understanding Mentoring

Mentoring is a powerful and popular way for people to learn a variety of personal and professional skills. Most adults can identify a person who, at some time in their life had a significant and positive impact on them. Mentors can be friends, relatives, co-workers, teachers, as well as historic or contemporary personalities. Organisations of every size use mentoring and many organizations have a formal process their staff can implement should they wish to undertake mentoring.

Mentoring is increasingly recognized as a vital component in any business toolkit for the 21st century. In general, mentors are usually more experienced, are frequently more senior than the learner and provide support, encouragement and guidance.

Mentors perform roles in five key categories:

1. Coach e.g. by showing how to carry out a task or activity;
2. Facilitate e.g. by creating opportunities for learners to use new skills;
3. Counsel e.g. by helping learners explore the consequences of potential decisions;
4. Network e.g. by referring learners to others when the mentor's experience is insufficient; and
5. Confidant - all discussions are treated with respect and in confidence.

Mentoring provides one of our most powerful assets in business, in life and in achieving almost any goal i.e. the transfer of knowledge. Would you benefit from a mentor? Some mentors identify mentees but most often, people seek out their mentors. The mentoring process is usually a voluntary one - it is therefore essential that expectations are agreed - e.g. a meeting conducted once monthly is standard practice and a schedule set that is not altered but does take time limits into consideration.

Your Guide to Mentoring

• Look for someone who is well respected;
• Has the life and work experience necessary to help you deal with issues of concern or help you uncover your own solutions through positive and constructive feedback;
• Is a good listener;
• Determine what help you think you'll need and make it clear;
• List your needs - perhaps an agenda;
• Approach your mentor and explain your needs and desire to undertake mentoring with them. It needs to be a mutually agreeable arrangement; and
• Agree to review and assess outcomes.

If you wish to find out more about the mentoring program, in particular if you wish to become a mentor, please contact the WIC Secretary.