Mentoring
There may be some members, who would find mentoring a valuable experience. This can be a more structured mentoring programme (laid out below) or something more informal, such as a meeting or call to support an individual looking to apply for a role, for example. Whether it is ‘light touch’ or more structured and over a longer period, the same principles should apply.
What is a Mentor? Someone who can share their experience and give insight as a trusted advisor. Someone who can facilitate a mentee to find their own solutions.
What is a Mentee? – someone who seeks valuable advice and support from someone more experienced to develop personally or professionally.
What are the benefits of mentoring for a mentee?
- A source of guidance and a different perspective.
- Provides a safe space to discuss new ideas.
- Helps with problem solving.
- Personal reflection outside of the day job.
- A source of stretch and challenge.
- Access to new and different information.
- Develops your network.
What are the benefits of mentoring for a mentor?
- Refreshes the mentors learning.
- Satisfaction of helping someone and their development.
- An opportunity to be challenged and see a different perspective.
- Opportunity for time out of the day job and to reflect.
- Satisfaction of improving the sector.
The role of the mentor…
- Set out your time commitments and availability upfront.
- Be clear about your experience and where you can or can’t support.
- Willing to commit some of your time (to be defined with the mentee /mentor upfront).
- Ask questions about the mentee to understand them and the challenge they face.
- Be open and honest and willing to share both the challenges and highlights.
- Challenge the mentee by asking open and probing questions
- Recognise that what works for you, may not be applicable for the mentee.
- Keep the conversations and any outputs from these confidential between yourself and your mentee.
- Be constructive.
The role of the mentee…
- Be clear about what you need support on and the outputs you require.
- Accept that a potential mentor, may not be the right person, don’t fit your challenge to suit a mentor. Be prepared to seek support elsewhere.
- The level of time you require from your mentor and if this can be via telephone or in person.
- The mentee should drive the agenda and arrange the meetings / calls.
- The mentee should bring the topics and challenged to be discussed.
- Prepared to be challenged and think of your own solutions – you will not simply be given the right answer
- Think about how any suggestions may apply to your issue and circumstances, the solutions may be very different.
If you are interested in having a mentor or a ‘light touch’ conversation, please get in contact with Rachel. We have a number of Finance Leaders who are happy to support in this area.