Mentoring: Set Agenda to Taste Success

Mentoring is used for grooming potential leaders. This is a means of fostering employee learning and development.

The associate / junior is paired with senior level leader for a series of career development interaction.

Mentor can facilitate personal and professional growth by sharing knowledge and insights gathered through the year.

A mentor is not necessarily a manager or superior. It could be anyone in the organisation.

Mentoring relationship succeed when both mentor and mentee take an active role in developing the relationship.

SUITABLE TYPE

Look for people who inspire / motivate you.

Some one whom you admire and respect.

He/She must be genuinely interested in nurturing the mentor-mentored relationship.

Approach the individual and ask if he/she would consider being your mentor.

Don’t be disappointed if they say “NO”

Keep looking until you find the right person.

You can establish multiple mentor relationships with various individuals to address different aspects of your life.

TAKE THE LEAD

Although mentor is available, it is the mentee, who must take the lead in the mentoring sessions.

Spend some time together to learn more about each other building a personal relationship.

Share career stories, visions and even topics not pertaining to work like movies, hobbies, news and events.

SOME GUIDELINES TO DEVELOP

MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS

BE CLEAR

Understand the agenda and assumptions that mentor & mentor bring to the mentoring table.

Set the expectations from the beginning.

Discuss the method of feedback by the mentored.

ESTABLISH GOALS

Know your goals.

Use smart (Specific, measurable, achievable, realistic & time based) goal method.

Be open to re-evaluate your goals mid way.

ESTABLISH COMMUNICATION

Maintain clear & consistent communication

Be reliable responsive, prepared & organized.

Communicate your ideas, needs, goals and aspirations.

Determine the lines of communication that will work both of you.

BUILD TRUST

Core of the mentor-mentored relationship is trust.

Both should mutually agree that their discussions will be kept confidential.

ATTITUDE & WORK ETHICS

Be enthusiastic & be prepared to put in efforts.

Stay motivated & committed.

Take the initiative to do something different.

Challenge yourself and take risks.

Be honest, hardworking & conscientious.

EXPRESS YOUR GRATITUDE

In the end, express your gratitude for the time, thought and insight invested on you.

Be sincere and be honest.

Discuss & plan how you will end the mentoring relationship.

Respect your mentor if he would like to be the first to end the relationship.

A good closure is synonymous with learning and growth.