Mentoring for Business: Introduction to Mentoring 2

Start >Introduction to Mentoring > Some Features of a Good Mentor

Some Features of a Good Mentor Click each bullet in turn to reveal the answers
	Sees people as individuals and therefore deals with them as such
	Encourages mentee to take responsibility for own development and encourages individuals to stretch themselves
	Provides support & guidance, when necessary
	Gives people relevant amount of time
	Sets and agrees realistic targets and action plans with the mentee regularly
	Monitors and reviews the progress of the mentee & themselves on a regular basis
	Questions and actively listens to the mentee
	Provides feedback to the mentee
	Coaches the individual when appropriate
	Able to communicate well and build rapport with mentee
	Evaluates the process and own performance at the end of the programme

Some Styles of Mentoring

Below are some examples of mentoring styles which can be used in a flexible way depending on the situation that confronts the mentee and the mentor.

DIRECTIVE	This style is used when the mentor needs to take the initiative within the process. This could be due to the mentee lacking in confidence or experience. Using this style you TELL the individual what, how, why, when, where and by whom the task is to be done.
SUPPORTIVE	In this style the mentor supports the mentee. The responsibility of the progress is shared between both the mentor and mentee. The mentor provides support to the mentee in order to build confidence.
NON-DIRECTIVE	This style is where the initiative is with the mentee. Progress is the main responsibility of the mentee. The mentor questions and probes the ideas and suggestions of the mentee in order to gain the most from the session.

Identify What Style of Mentoring is Being Used

	Directive	Supportive	Non-Directive
The mentee provides a number of suggestions within the session. The mentor summarises and questions the points raised by the mentee.
The mentor tells the mentee that she should put her name forward for time management training.
A mentee has asked for a meeting with his mentor to discuss the progress of an activity he has recently commenced.
The mentor says, "I feel that you should ask your line manager to show you how to deal with this procedure. What do you think?"
The mentee states "I think that I should be able to delegate this to one of my team members."To which the mentor replies "How will you go about doing this without making the team member feeling that you have just dumped this work on them?"
The mentor shows the mentee how to do the specific task.