7.2.2 Mentoring
Mentoring is defined as the process of providing constant encouragement and assistance to another by either being a positive role model or an independent resource able to enhance attainment of an individual's personal and task related needs.
The Mentor may assist a participant through a learning process and should possess the capacity to be able to appraise the individuals attainment of competency within a given job duty. Mentors, however, may not be part of the formal work group or team; in fact many companies insist that they are not.
As with styles of leadership and decision making, the style of mentoring can vary greatly.
Style |
Dimension/ Description |
Facilitator |
Creates environment where trainee may achieve learning outcomes and becomes involved in the process of learning |
Supportive |
Supports the trainee's learning through advice or resources as required - less likely to becomes directly involved in the process of learning |
Counselling |
Gives initial support and opens communication, acts when there is a problem, and focuses on the trainees well being more than the learning process. |
Empowering |
Shares responsibility with trainee and creates a learning partnership, encourages self-directed learning, and ensures the trainee owns the learning process |
Directive |
Responsibility is rarely vested in the trainee, creates learning environment based on own needs, and owns the learning process. |
The Value of Mentors
We tend to see the Mentor as a wise old worker who knows all the ropes and passes their knowledge onto the younger acolyte as they sit at their feet. This version is certainly a myth. This model fails to recognise that experience and competency is not necessarily linked to age. Nor should it be bounded by any preconceived ideas about gender, race, religion, area of operation, location, or such like.
The value of a Mentor system is the availability of an individual that understands the process of learning a new employee is completing and can support its completion. In an effective and open relationship the Mentor and the trainee can:
- Clear communication channels on the learning process and expectations
- Support cost-effective use of existing expertise to promote or accelerate a trainee's acquisition of competencies;
- Promote workplace practices that are known to work;
- Define boundaries and prevent overlap during training delivery and assessment; and
- Prepare today's trainee to become a future Mentor .
Reading 3
Warner, F (April, 2002) 'Inside Intel's Mentoring Movement', Fast Company , Issue 57, Page 116-118. Sourced January 2004, at http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/57/chalktalk.html .
Activity 4
Examine the above reading/case study and determine the three factors that made the Intel mentoring program so successful.