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Tools for Mentoring

03

Tools for Mentoring

1. Introduction

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.

2. Key Elements

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.

  • Name and its significance/ home and current family
  • Education/ work/ interests
  • Successes/ Difficulties
  • Dreams/ aspirations
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

  • Define the main goals of the relationship 
  • Identify potential barriers and challenges from both sides of the partnership
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

  • Presencing is adopted in the Mentoring Relationship to provide a conceptual framework which encourages the mentor and mentee to be really together at the same time and place.
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

  • …is the most important you encounter, since it allows you to express the degree of satisfaction you reached in the process.
  • How did you achieve results?
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!

  • It’s time to look back and see what happened, how the relationship has been.
  • It is important to say thanks for the time spent together, and to look forward to the next steps!
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!

3. Example

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.

4. Benefits and Potential Impact

The benefits and impact you might have from the guideline implementation are:

For the mentor For the mentee
  • To know suitable mentoring tools
  • The tools favour a sustainable process
  • To use tools purposefully
  • Validated/ tested tools offer security
  • To know the positive effects of the tools
  • The tools support a holistic process

5. Self-evaluation Questionnaire