What Is Mentoring?

Mentoring is a ONE-TO-ONE RELATIONSHIP between an experienced professional (MENTOR) who shares their knowledge, skills and experience with a less experienced professional (MENTEE) to assist in their career progression.

MENTEE

Embark on the exercise only when you can make the commitment to prepare, attend meetings and take action after meetings. A mentee needs to be capable of clear self-assessment and to look honestly at their strengths and weaknesses as these form part of the discussion with the mentor.

MENTOR

Mentors commit to a mentee for a set period and invest time in getting to know the mentee, their capabilities, interests and ambitions. The mentor will be knowledgeable in their field and pass on wisdom gained through their own business experiences.

The mentor explores with the mentee their current career situation, what they wish to achieve and how they go about doing this but does not prescribe solutions or career routes.

HOW THE MENTOR HELPS

  • CAREER INTRODUCTIONS
  • CORPORATE UNDERSTANDING
  • PROBLEM SOLVING
  • OVERCOME HURDLES
  • EXPLORE WORK METHODS
  • CAREER PLANNING

PLANNING AND INSIGHT

Mentoring is about long range career planning or strategic business challenges. The mentor provides support and advice that enables the mentee to forge ahead with their ambition. In the mentoring relationship, the mentee actively manages the two-way process of exploration and discussion, making the most of the highly experienced professional at their disposal.

GOAL SETTING

THE MENTEE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THEIR VISION FOR THE FUTURE, ASPIRATIONS, WHERE THEY ARE NOW AND WHERE THEY WANT TO GO.

The mentor will help the mentee develop a career plan with goals, targets and time frames. During this process, the mentee will reflect on their experiences, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, and determine how mentoring can help them progress. This may involve building new skills and confidence, new ways of working, and wider networking that could open doors to the following:

  • FINANCE
  • INNOVATION
  • ENTREPRENEUR
  • CAREER CHANGE

You might also enjoy