Mentorship: a powerful catalyst in accelerating the career growth and mobility of postgraduate researchers and academics Presented by The Renaissance Network The Renaissance Network 1
Our Focus To promote an enhanced understanding of the benefits of a formally-structured mentoring relationship. Mentorship is seen as a powerful catalyst in one s career development journey, leading to the achievement of your short and longer-term learning and career development goals in a caring and secure learning environment. In addition, participants are also orientated to the concept of a Personal & Professional Development Contract, focussing on the holistic growth of the individual, both on a personal and a workrelated level The Renaissance Network 2
Some Introductory Remarks Mentorship in the transformational leadership context The Renaissance Network 3
A key transformational leadership challenge To unlock, nurture and optimise human potential in the most sustainable manner, promoting the accelerated growth and development of the individual and that of the organisation The Renaissance Network 4
Key transformational leadership challenge cont critical need to build and continuously enhance our diverse workplaces as vibrant sites of learning-as transforming learning organisationsfostering a dynamic culture of lifelong learning that actively promotes the personal and professional effectiveness of all employees, through the medium of structured and systematic career development and management processes The Renaissance Network 5
Section One Mentoring & its benefits The Renaissance Network 6
Mentorshipan age-old human development tool A very powerful instrument for workplace transformation and organisational renewal, acting as a catalyst in optimising business performance, academic excellence and enhanced employee empowerment The Renaissance Network 7
A DEFINITION OF A MENTOR "A Mentor is a person who oversees the career and development of another person, usually a junior, through teaching, counselling, providing psychological support, protecting and at times promoting or sponsoring." D.Clutterbuck The Renaissance Network 8
KEY ELEMENTS OF MENTORSHIP DYNAMIC RECIPROCAL HAPPENS IN A WORK ENVIRONMENT FOCUSSED AND PURPOSEFUL The Renaissance Network 9
A JOURNEY - PHASES OF THE MENTORING RELATIONSHIP The Renaissance Network 10
The context at higher institutions of learning The Role of Mentorship and its benefits The Renaissance Network 11
TRANSLATING LEGEND TO A SA HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENTCHALLENGE Current human resources development record Imperatives of legislation The Constitution of RSA The Skills Development Act The Employment Equity Act Skills Development & Succession Planning in the HE landscape The institution s HRD & EE Strategy and Plan The challenge: implementing a formal workplace AND institutional mentorship process The Renaissance Network 12
The Context cont Interface with other key institutional development and transformation processes such as: Workplace Skills Planning Employment Equity Planning Succession Planning Performance Management Scarce skills development and career enhancement Gender equity and advancement Talent Retention and Management Leadership and Management Development The Renaissance Network 13
Higher Institutions of learning are challenged actively competing with each other and with competitors from abroad for highly specialised skills and academic talent to enhance your competitive advantage and grow your market share in the higher education landscape compelled to treat skills development, and particularly the effective transfer of skills, knowledge and expertise as a key developmental priority, in support of achieving not only your Employment Equity objectives, but also the people and organisational development intent of the corporate strategic plans of your institutions The Renaissance Network 14
Mentorship as a transformational tool a powerful business case for us to embark on skills growth and transfer initiatives such as Mentorship in our quest to achieve workplace transformation and optimal organisational performance The Renaissance Network 15
A MODEL FOR SUCCESSFUL MENTORSHIP CLIMATE OF SUPPORT AND CULTURE OF LEARNING THE LEARNER support of: family and friends manager and mentor colleagues and team members The Renaissance Network 16
A MODEL FOR MENTEE DEVELOPMENT PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT THE MENTEE The Renaissance Network 17
A Collaborative Engagement at the Institutional levels THE ROLES OF KEY STAKEHOLDERS IN THE PROCESS The Renaissance Network 18
THE PARTNERSHIP MODEL FOR SUCCESSFUL MENTORSHIP The Renaissance Network 19
KEY STAKEHOLDERS IN MENTORSHIP the mentee the mentor the mentee s supervisor the Project Co-ordinator the Institution the Research Office Other.. The Renaissance Network 20
THE ROLE OF THE MENTEE committed to own learning goals builds the mentoring relationship promotes mentor's development communicates with relevant stakeholders accepts responsibility for own development offers friendship The Renaissance Network 21
THE ROLE OF THE MENTOR a coach a counsellor a mediator a change agent a friend evaluates performance promotes training & development promotes personal growth encourages independence open to new learning The Renaissance Network 22
THE ROLE OF THE MENTEE S SUPERVISOR accelerates career development of the mentee resource to mentor and learner initiates own involvement provides ongoing feedback facilitates problem solving and dispute resolution rewards achievements measures performance champions mentorship at the workplace The Renaissance Network 23
Focus on Self EXPLORING OWN FRAMES OF REFERENCE AND PERSONAL VALUE SYSTEMS The Renaissance Network 24
FRAMES OF REFERENCE A KALEIDOSCOPE OF LIFE S EXPERIENCES IS SOURCED FROM ONE S ~ culture ~ schooling ~ religion ~ political orientation ~ status / advancement ~ societal norms ~ prejudices The Renaissance Network 25
UNDERSTANDING ONE S OWN VALUE SYSTEMS "Though the process of reviewing values is sometimes painful, it usually leads to a more satisfying and accurate way of seeing our relation to life." -Carl Rogers The Renaissance Network 26
A PERSONAL INVESTMENT IN MENTORING Mutual Benefits The Renaissance Network 27
BENEFITS TO THE MENTORING RELATIONSHIP trust tolerance mutual understanding acceptance respect valuing of differences The Renaissance Network 28
POSITIVE BEHAVIOURS TO SUPPORT EFFECTIVE MENTORING active listening realistic expectations constructive feedback a high level of motivation goal - directed behaviour commitment to own growth and development taking initiative at all times The Renaissance Network 29
NEGATIVE BEHAVIOURS TO AVOID IN A MENTORING RELATIONSHIP criticising in an unconstructive manner unrealistic expectations poor listening excessive dependency on the mentor apathy / lack of interest getting too emotional passing the buck" to other parties lack of commitment to manage own career The Renaissance Network 30
Aiming for compatibility CRAFTING A COMPATIBILE MENTORING PARTNERSHIP The Renaissance Network 31
% mutual respect % friendship % personal fulfillment % career enhancement % productivity % understanding & valuing diversity % role models The Renaissance Network 32
DIFFERENT MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS highly formal, short-term relationship highly formal, long-term relationship informal, short-term relationship informal, long-term relationship The Renaissance Network 33
QUALITIES OF GREAT PARTNERSHIPS balance truth trust generosity passion courage integrity valuing diversity The Renaissance Network 34
Logistics PREPARING FOR THE FORMAL MENTORING RELATIONSHIP The Renaissance Network 35
PREPARING FOR THE FIRST MENTORING MEETING Your roles and responsibilities Your expectations of each other When and where you will meet for future meetings Who will take responsibility for calling meetings Options open to you if the relationship does not satisfy both your needs (handling conflict) How to handle and manage conflict The possibility of changing mentors Exiting the relationship The Renaissance Network 36
THE PLEDGE ~ A Commitment to Mentorship The Renaissance Network 37
THE PDC holistic growth and development an integrated personal and professional development focus performance-centred indicators and standards negotiated time-frames promotes a feedback-rich partnership a catalyst in an effective career management process The Renaissance Network 38
KEY ELEMENTS OF A PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT Where do I want to get to? The Renaissance Network 39
How do I get there? How will I know if I have arrived? The Renaissance Network 40
PDC Name of mentee Position Department/faculty Immediate supervisor Department/faculty Highest academic qualification Name of mentor Mentor's position Contact tel no and email address of mentor The Renaissance Network 41
A. MENTEE'S CAREER DEVELOPMENT GOALS & TIME- FRAMES 1. WITHIN ONE YEAR 2. IN THREE YEARS 3. IN FIVE YEARS The Renaissance Network 42
B. MY POST-GRADUATE STUDY/RESEARCH GOALS 1. Mapping out my post-graduate study plan on an annual basis 2. Planning my research goals on a sixmonthly/annual basis 3. Enrichment of my career as a researcher/academic on annual basis 4. Building my portfolio of evidence as a researcher/academic 5. Other: The Renaissance Network 43
MY PERSONAL ACTION PLAN TO ADDRESS MY POST-GRAD/RESEARCH GOALS The Renaissance Network 44
Key considerations, when planning your research goals Agreement and consolidation of your Thesis proposal and format Formal adherence to institutional and external funding agencies administrative processes and deadlines Knowledge and Experience acquisition: -conducting relevant literature review -critical appraisal of the literature -conducting experimental work -conducting market research The Renaissance Network 45
Key considerations cont Research Findings Analysis of data Representing data in tables and figures Interpretation of Data Communication of Research Findings: -writing the paper -submission of papers to journals for publication -attendance at conferences/seminars (posters and oral presentations)-sourcing funding/sponsorships for travel and accommodation -in-house newsletters -local media -industry and governmental stakeholders The Renaissance Network 46
Key considerations cont Writing up of Thesis/Dissertation - Agreement with supervisor on method of submission of chapters/body of research Proof-reading/Editing of Thesis -sourcing of editors, budget, time-frames Submission of Thesis/Dissertation -printing -binding -deadlines The Renaissance Network 47
Other goals My goals for personal development My family goals My economic or financial goals My academic / educational goals My work-related goals Other. The Renaissance Network 48
RECORD OF PERFORMANCE AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW Mentor/mentee meeting Review of progress: three/six month action plan Activity/ goals & progress review Areas needing attention Identify area, action steps, responsibility (mentor/mentee) Target date The Renaissance Network 49
MENTOR AND MENTEE GROWTH A WIN -WIN FOR THE PARTNERSHIP The Renaissance Network 50
THE ROAD AHEAD ~ The Renaissance Network 51