Mentoring is the act of serving as a trusted counselor, tutor or coach for another individual. Mentoring relationships are dynamic, reciprocal, personal relationships in which a more experienced person (mentor) acts as a guide, role model, teacher, and sponsor of a less experienced person (protégé). Mentors provide protégés with knowledge, advice, counsel, support and opportunity in the protégés pursuit of full membership in a particular profession.

A mentor should not be confused with a “Buddy”, a friend or support, or a “Coach”, who supports other Team Members to set and achieve goals through a process of self-discovery. Within in our roles we all have particular expertise – mentoring is the process whereby we assist other team members to develop their skills through the provision of knowledge and expertise.

Key Components to Mentoring

• Decide in advance the maximum number of protégés you can mentor and maintain excellence. Then, identify the personal and professional interests and aspirations of protégés that make them a good match before committing to a mentoring relationship.
• Identify and communicate your protégés talents and strengths whilst also acknowledging their fears and weaknesses.
• Jointly set high expectations for your protégé and always model the same excellence you expect from protégés.
• Regularly affirm your protégés professional performance and instil confidence in them to overcome their doubts and fears.
• Discern your protégés unique career dream and consider which opportunities would best prepare them to achieve this dream.
• Be a teacher when mentoring - intentionally demonstrate and describe complex professional skills.
• Seek opportunities to offer support, praise, and encouragement when mentoring. Be open to discussing and exploring protégé concerns and difficulties.
• Give protégés exposure and promote their visibility.
• Encourage innovative thought and creative problem solving in protégés.
• Deliberately challenge protégés with demanding assignments tailored to their abilities and performance thresholds.
• Provide correction constructively and honestly when it is needed during the mentoring process.
• Recognise your protégés growth and development milestones as key measures of mentoring success.
• Disclose relevant personal experiences as a means of teaching, reassuring, and connecting with protégés.
• Make following through with commitment to your protégé a top priority of your mentoring.

Superior Mentoring Traits

Active Listener, Accessible, Patient, Adaptable/Flexible, Systematic Approach, Strong, Communicator, Open, Supportive, Approachable, Empathetic, Developer, Commitment to Process

What is Gained Through Mentoring?

The protégé gains skills and knowledge, confidence, on-the-job learning, provision of feedback and teamwork. The mentor gains fulfilment through a sense of contribution, sense of accomplishment by reflecting on their own skills, competencies and practices, and increased leadership skills.