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.