The Bridge Mentorship Program. Mentor Toolkit

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1 The Bridge Mentorship Program Mentor Toolkit 2013

2 Objectives The Bridge Mentorship Program Information for Mentors and Mentees Successful mentoring programs are those that have clear, measurable objectives. Here are a few examples that may help you to develop objectives for your mentoring relationship Build confidence Improve communication skills Enhance interactions with others Brainstorm career goals and paths Keys to a Successful Mentoring Program Mentor Roles Establishes an environment for open interaction and encourages a two-way exchange of information. Helps the mentor plan his/her learning objectives by identifying and understanding career-related skills, interests. Identifies potential opportunities and pitfalls; shares success stories as well as failures. Gives constructive feedback and recommendations that support the agreed upon goals and objectives. Praises the mentee s efforts and achievements and builds confidence. Proactively schedules meetings or calls with your mentee. Demonstrates professionalism and leads by example. Mentee Roles Establishes specific and measurable goals, and shares these with the mentor to give meetings focus and direction. Puts development plan into effect and turns it into results Is prepared and on time for meetings and follows through on agreed upon action items. Seeks and accepts constructive feedback. Provides honest feedback to his/her mentor. Keeps mentor informed of progress made. Mentors and Mentees Respect the confidentiality of personal information shared through the mentoring relationship. Ideally, agree to meet in person or by phone/skype at least twice a month. Plan for the meeting in advance Be aware of differences in personality and style Honest, candid discussion about how the mentorship relationship is working Maintain a willingness to learn and teach

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4 The Bridge Mentorship Program The Benefits of Mentoring Mentoring is an excellent growth opportunity for both mentors and mentees. Being mentored has been linked consistently with achievement. Those who have participated in mentorship relationships report higher levels of confidence, stronger connections with others in their industry, greater productivity and increased career satisfaction. Mentors also reap benefits. Mentors report significant personal satisfaction from helping someone reach their full potential. They also find themselves reflecting on aspects of their own careers that they normally don t take time to think about. Responsibilities of the Mentor Information Sharing Coach on how to challenge the status quo constructively using their personal strengths Provide a trusting forum where any question is acceptable to ask and thought, individual answers are provided.. Your mentee may share personal information or experiences. This information should be kept confidential. What a Mentor Doesn t Do Obligate your mentee to outside social activities or other commitments. Discuss with others information that your mentee shared with you in confidence. Reschedule meetings or calls without determining a mutually acceptable date for your next meeting. Become discouraged if it takes several weeks to build a relationship with your mentee... Career Planning/Training Help Mentee articulate career goals that match their personal values and aspirations. Provide insight into career paths Share personal experiences that may address issues your mentee is encountering. Coaching Provide perspective, experience and ideas on how to work more effectively. Offer suggestions on problems/issues a mentee faces, strategies to use, people to involve, how to gain alignment ahead of time, necessary pre-work, etc. Offer coaching on specific problems or work topics, if asked. Share personal experiences that may address issues identified by the mentee. Make Honest Communication a Priority Take time to respond to your mentee s questions in a way that pertains to both your experience and their career goals. Provide honest feedback to your mentee. Be open to honest feedback from your mentee.

5 Getting the Relationship Off to a Good Start The First Meeting Just as mentors have concerns about their role in the partnership, mentees also have concerns. The first meeting can dispel concerns and set a positive tone for the rest of the relationship. It is important to make sure the first meeting goes well. Being organized and upbeat is a crucial first step. Below are potential agenda items for your meeting Get acquainted Before diving into the work, exchange information about yourselves, with the goal of connecting on a personal level. A good way to begin the conversation is Tell me about yourself.. Discuss your reasons for participating It is important for both mentor and mentee to know the other is committed to the success of the relationship. Talk about any concerns in this first meeting. Review goals for mentoring Mentees should elaborate on their development needs, and both parties should discuss whether the desired goals are reasonable and measurable. Once goals are established, the mentor should think about the kinds of experiences that can help accomplish the mentee s goals. Those experiences and progress towards the goals should be the major focus of subsequent meetings. Work out the details Those who set a regular schedule for contact have the best experience. The mentee should be responsible for initiating and scheduling meetings. However both need to decide when to meet and how often, how they will connect, how they will evaluate progress, and how to handle missed or cancelled meetings. Measurement During your first meeting, set two or three goals or objectives for your mentoring relationship. The mentor and mentee may want to document meetings and maintain notes in order to formally track accomplishments, commitments and next steps. Ingredients for a Successful Mentoring Relationship Regular open communications Mutual interest in helping each other Listening to each other Openness about your experiences and feelings Candid discussion about how the mentoring is working Awareness of differences in personality and styles Enthusiasm and willingness to learn and teach Sample Mentorship Meeting Topics Here are a few ideas of topics for structured discussions: Business knowledge Visibility opportunities Career development Community involvement Skill enhancement Subsequent Meetings While subsequent meetings can follow any agenda that you agree on, common elements should be reviewing progress toward the overall goal(s), review the mentee s experiences since the last meeting and reach agreement on assignments or activities to be completed by the next meeting. While most meetings can be handled via phone, plan for at least three inperson meetings during the four-month mentorship program.

6 First Meeting Template The first meeting between mentor and mentee sets the stage for a successful mentoring relationship. Here are suggestions for information you may wish to discuss during this initial meeting. Share information, including Educational background and work experience Common areas of interest Strengths and opportunities for growth Personality and work style Biggest challenges and accomplishments at work Career interests and goals Mentor Mentee Share the goals each of you has for the relationship, including what you hope to gain or learn from this experience? Mentor Mentee

7 How will you evaluate your progress? Mentor Mentee When and where or how will you meet? How often will you meet? If you need to cancel or postpone a meeting, what arrangements will you make? What s the best way and times or days of the week to contact one another? Which AREAA or industry events are you planning to attend during the mentorship period?

8 2013 Planning Calendar January April July February May August March June September October November December