In this guideline proven mentoring tools that are suitable for the phases of the mentoring process outlined in the unit ‘Lifecycle of a mentoring relationship’ are presented. The use of these tools facilitates a mentor’s daily work and promotes a constructive mentoring process.
The infographic shows an overview of suitable mentoring tools that have been assigned for Farms’ Charm in the respective phases of the mentoring lifecycle model. These tools are briefly presented below. They can be found in the appendices of the guideline for individual adaptations and use by the Farms’ Charm mentors.
Phase 1: Building rapport – Getting to know each other (Tool No. 1)
| Getting to know each other | |
|---|---|
The best way to break the ice with someone is to start finding out what you have in common with the other person. To do so, you can choose some typical topics to start with, e.g.
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Read about your Mentee/ Mentor: Have a look over the counterpart’s CV, background/ experience. |
| Be on time: Making your counterpart wait is a bad start. Show respect and care. | |
| Talk and listen by turns: Maintain an active listening approach. | |
| Stay focused! Focus on listening and understanding the other. | |
| Be open & honest: You are starting to build your mentoring relationship, be open and honest about your feelings. | |
Phase 2: Setting direction – Goals and challenges (Tool No. 2)
| Goals and challenges | |
|---|---|
Identifying goals & challenges to start leading the relationship towards results
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Goals: The mentee should start to identify personal and professional goals s/he wants to achieve |
| Barriers & Challenges: The mentee should reflect on: Why these goals? What are the main obstacles/ challenges in the business? | |
| Better together: The mentee should ask for support in this complex task. Sometimes it can be very hard to get the mind clear. | |
| It’s just a first approach: The mentee should define goals/ challenges but not worry too much about this output now. | |
| You ‘ll be back soon: Go on! You will be working on refining the goals and discovering the real ones in the next sessions. | |
Phase 3: Progression – Presencing (Tool No. 3)
| Presencing | |
|---|---|
“Presencing” is the key for active listening
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Sit down: Sit just for 2-5 minutes! |
| Know yourself: Get to know yourself, do a body scan! | |
| Be mindful: Notice the light, sounds and energy – Count your breaths! | |
| Let’s do it: Don’t get caught up in the how – just do! | |
| Don’t care: Don’t worry too much that you’re doing the wrong | |
| Clear your mind: Don’t worry about clearing the mind!! | |
| In the end: Smile when you’re done! | |
Phase 4: Winding up – Mentoring result assessment (Tool No. 4)
| Mentoring assessment of results | |
|---|---|
Assessing the outcomes of the mentoring
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Adaption: During the process you adjusted the objectives/ indicators. |
| Watch: Keep an eye on the progress and score them in interim reports. | |
| Your goals: Did you/ the mentee achieve the expected results? | |
| Possible solutions: How did you/ the mentee achieve them? | |
| Go on: You/t he mentee achieved the objectives and fully accomplished the general goals. You can do the closing session. | |
Phase 5: Moving on – Achievements and moving on (Tool No. 5)
| Achievements and moving on | |
|---|---|
Let’s say thank you and get advised about the next steps!
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Retrieve the contract: Check the signed mentorship contract and talk about the whole process. |
| Focus on the goals/ objectives: From the previous activities, mentee and mentor shall be enabled to retrieve/ evaluate the overall process. | |
| Result evaluation: Resume all the learning, self-development and results the mentee has achieved compared to the scheduled ones. | |
| Next steps: After discussing/ evaluating the overall process, the mentor could give recommendation/ advices to the mentee’s next own steps. | |
| Thanks & Good bye: Finalise the session showing mutual appreciation! | |
Before the first meeting, Mrs Sophie studied the ‘Guidelines’ and ‘Tools’. Using tool no. 1, she considered a suitable icebreaker setting, which she applies in her first meeting with Mrs Diana. To clarify defined objectives as well as possible challenges and hurdles, the mentor uses tool no. 2. She likes to use ‘Presencing’ (tool no. 3) at the beginning of each meeting to ensure a pleasant atmosphere and full attention. The tools presented are an effective means for checking whether the goals have been achieved.
The benefits and impact you might have from the guideline implementation are:
| For the mentor | For the mentee |
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The Farms’ Charm project aims to develop learning materials to educate small and medium-sized farmers in possible ways of starting their agritourism activities which will help them not only diversify their incomes but also promote their farm products directly to consumers. All that while reviving the rural areas and local communities and promoting a sustainable way of tourism which is in line with the tendencies of slowing down and staying longer at one area.
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. The content of this website reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.