Sengii Online Community Mentoring Program: Best Practices Handbook
What is Mentoring?
According to the International Mentoring Association, mentoring is composed of:
- A series of tasks that effective mentors must do to promote the professional development of others.
- The low-risk relationship within which the partners can try new ways of working and relating, make mistakes, gain feedback, accept challenges, and learn in front of each other.
- The complex, developmental process that mentors use to support and guide their protégé through the necessary career transitions that are a part of learning how to be an effective, reflective professional, and a career-long learner.
An effective mentor guides the mentee by providing support and advice. The main role of a mentor is to share their career experience and challenge you to think through issues to find the best path. A mentor helps you identify strengths, weaknesses, career paths, create contacts and set goals. It is a long lasting, trusting relationship. It can happen at any point in someone’s career but the wisdom that is imparted is retained through life. Being a mentor can be a rewarding and positive experience.
A mentor does:
- Become your personal advocate.
- Offers encouragement and advice.
- Share their experience and mistakes.
- Helps you set goals.
- Helps you see the bigger picture.
A mentor does not:
- Tell you how to do things.
- Tell you to do something you don’t want to do.
- Become your personal therapist.
- Become a coach for mundane tasks.
Before a mentor and mentee begin their relationship, certain guidelines should be set for both parties to know the boundaries of their relationship. Establish a set of roles and responsibilities so everyone will know what is expected of them.
For a mentee, having a mentor to model, saves you from making certain mistakes in your career journey. A mentor can help you with your vision, set goals and even give you “shortcuts” that they did not have. Having a mentor does not mean having someone tell you what to do every step of the way, but gives you the encouragement to take on any challenge.
A mentee should:
- Be open to criticism.
- Be considerate of feedback.
- Make the effort to listen.
- Stay professional.
As a mentee, you should be an attentive listener and learn what you can from the experience of others. Realize you shouldn’t abuse the relationship with unreasonable expectations. Commit to following through the goals you have set and to discuss the development with your mentor. Show that you value the mentor’s support by doing your diligence.
In truth, everyone should have a mentor. Industry changes, procedures change; no matter how far you are in your career, you can always learn something new. The positive impact a mentor will have on you, can inspire you to help shape the next generation. When we help others learn and grow, we grow.
2. Identify your Goals
The purpose of this guide is to offer a basis in which to run your mentoring program. Whether you have tried other systems, or your association is new at this, Sengii staff will happily assist you with the formation of your own mentoring program.
Identify Business Case
Identify Team and Resources
Develop Project Plan
Market and Recruit Participants
Develop Application Form
Select and Matching
See the applications specs here and what you should do first:
https://gstitch.com/view/sengii/connect-online-community/1e42f9dd-57a4-470b-a242-9f1238befce0
https://gstitch.com/view/sengii/connect-online-community/d125c00d-46d7-4454-a388-1d299b0dbe1d
