Mentoring
What is Mentoring?
Mentoring is essentially about helping people to develop more effectively. It is a relationship designed to build confidence and support the mentee so they are able to take control of their own development and work. Mentoring is not the same as training, teaching or coaching, and a mentor doesn’t need to be a qualified trainer or an expert in the role the mentee carries out. They need to be able to listen and ask questions that will challenge the mentee to identify the course of action they need to take in regards to their own development. A mentor is different from a line manager in that they will not have direct responsibility for the mentee’s work performance but they will be responsible for encouraging the mentee to work towards their own individual objectives and be a motivating guide for the mentee on their journey.
What is a Mentor?
A mentor is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as an “experienced and trusted adviser”. This description reflects how we would like to see mentors work with their mentees. Your role as mentor will cover at least some of the following:
- Listen
- Ask questions to help develop yours and the mentee’s understanding of a situation or problem
- Provide information and knowledge and share informal networks
- Provide advice on career development
- Offer different perspectives
- Provide support and encouragement
- Provide an insight into your work and career
- Offer guidance and advice in regards to qualifications
- Be a sounding board
- Be a critical friend
- Encourage self reflection
- Help mentees identify areas for development.
As a mentor you will have the opportunity to use your experience and knowledge in a facilitative manner to support the development of the mentee. However, the responsibility for making things happen and putting plans into action lies primarily with the mentee — not with you.
The benefits of Mentoring
| For the Mentor | For the Mentee | For the Department/ Organization |
| • Job satisfaction from seeing others develop
• Increased recognition from peers • Challenge and stimulation • Having identified future potential of the person they are mentoring • Learning and developing yourself from the process • Satisfaction at the success of the mentee • Recognition of your mentoring skills by the Department and the University • Motivation from self development and responsibility |
• Increased self confidence and motivation
• Support and challenge in formulating a clear sense of personal direction • Understanding of the formal and informal culture • An opportunity to develop skills by observing others • A source of knowledge and experience to tap into • A sounding board to discuss ideas and approaches before action is taken • An opportunity to think about things in a different way |
• Increased levels of motivation from those involved
• Employees who have a clear direction and clear objectives • Improved communication at all levels and across levels • Sharing of knowledge and experiences and best practice as standard working practice • Tangible and measurable gains if work tasks and projects are used as a development tool • Innovation and continuous improvement in the way that employees approach their work |
Vocabulary
| 1. Relationship
2. Build confidence 3. Take control of development 4. Qualified trainer 5. Carry out the role 6. Be able to listen 7. Challenge smb 8. Identify the course of action 9. In regards to 10. Line manager 11. Responsibility for work performance 12. Encourage smb 13. Work towards objectives 14. Be a motivating guide 15. Experienced and trusted adviser 16. Develop understanding of a situation 17. Share informal network 18. Provide advice on career development 19. Provide insight into work |
1. Отношения
2. Повышать уверенность 3. Контролировать развитие 4. Квалифицированный тренер 5. Выполнять роль 6. Уметь слушать 7. Бросать вызов, испытывать 8. Определить путь 9. В отношении чего-либо 10. Непосредственный руководитель 11. Ответственность за результат работы 12. Воодушевлять кого-либо 13. Работать над решением задач 14. Быть мотивирующим руководителем 15. Опытный и надежный советник 16. Развивать понимание ситуации 17. Делиться неформальными знакомствами 18. Давать совет по построению карьеры 19. Давать понимание сути задачи |
20. Be a sounding board
21. Encourage self-reflection 22. Make things happen 23. Put plans into action 24. Job satisfaction 25. Recognition from peers 26. Identify future potential 27. Increased self-confidence 28. Clear sense of personal direction 29. Develop skills 30. By observing others 31. Tangible and measurable gains 32. Approach work |
20. Быть тестовым слушателем
21. Поощрять самоанализ 22. Сдвинуть, заставить, повлиять 23. Запустить план в реализацию 24. Удовлетворение от работы 25. Признание коллег 26. Распознавать потенциал 27. Повысившаяся уверенность 28. Ясное понимание личного пути 29. Развивать умения 30. Посредством наблюдения за другими 31. Осязаемые и измеримые результаты 32. Относиться к работе |
