What does Mentoring Mean?

Mentor and Mentee

This section is in two parts:-

What is a mentor and can they support you?

How to complete your mentor diary for the programme?

A mentor is someone who can help you achieve your goals and can be a peer, friend, boss or even a partner, they cannot however be the training provider.

 A mentor should:-

• Genuinely care about the learner journey
• Provide insights into the learner's situation
• Accept the learner's individuality in terms of their strengths and areas for improvement, as well as their different learning styles
• Share knowledge and experience
• Ensure learning is implemented
• Help motivate the learner to achieve their objectives

Tips for Mentors:-

1. Start with the personal development plan and agree goals

2. You can use email and telephone if required to carry out the mentoring.

3. Each session does not have to be long. The minimum total time required is 15 hours however please record all mentor hours.

4. Develop a plan and agree to meet or talk
a. Before each element of training
b. Review afterward the training
c. Set SMARTA goals (Specific, Measurable, achievable, realistic, timed and agreed by all involved)

e.g. To have completed by assignment by Friday 3rd May 2010.  
which I agree to commit doing as a 9. (on a scale of 1 -10)

5. As a mentor it is important to recognise you may not always know the answer, but by using incisive questioning, you can help the learner find their own solution. This is far more empowering. You can use your experience to guide them to the right outcome.

6. Make sure it happens. If you agree to a mentoring meeting, stick to it. Make it a high priority. Also make sure the training happens, especially if it is in-house training. Schedule the date in.

7. Let people know they are valued

8. Go for a walk or find a relaxing non-threatening environment to discuss issues

9. Don't be afraid to give constructive feedback on how they are doing

10. Give good emotional support as well as factual, as this will help confidence building

11. Get yourself in the right frame of mind before you start the meeting/discussion. Clear the mind of other things and plan your approach.

12. When the session is over, recognise that and don't keep going back to it

13. Those who attended this meeting can include this time in their log.

How to complete your mentor diary for the programme

Tips to help you complete your mentor diary as the learner under the programme

You must complete the initial discussion, four reviews a final review, and then record comments of your experience

Initial discussion -  which will detail how you will take forward actions identified within Training / Development Plan e.g. looking at specific support required to meet objectives

Record a minimum of four reviews showing discussions around your progress and review of activities undertaken. You will need to record implementation of new skills / training undertaken to date and review timescale of achievement.  You can record your mentor support through a variety of activities that have taken place: ie face to face discussions, e mail correspondence, telephone conversations, job shadowing, induction, performance reviews and appraisals, signposting to reading materials, websites and relevant reading and support materials also count.

Things to include in the four reviews:  What are you learning from your training and how is this impacting on your day to day work. Review timescales of achievement, can you see the benefits of completing your training and any issues or concerns regarding your training.

Final Review:  Mentoring Programme and achievement of objectives. Record implementation of new skills / further training thoughts / career aspirations. Review impact of mentoring programme on personal development e.g. Career progression/Job Change, increased to a more senior level and / or extra responsibility or increased salary.

Further Comments: You should then  provide further comments of their experience overall and what the training has meant to them both professional and personally i.e. more confident / more motivated
 

Remember: Your mentoring time must cover a minimum of 15 hours. (This can be from when you first discussed your training requirements to when you complete your training).

Finally don't forget you, your employer (if you are self employed you sign again) and your mentor need to sign your mentor diary