WPDN | Mentorees

We welcome your interest and applications for the upcoming 2013 Program.

Downloads and Resources

FACTSHEET | COMING SOON

From Previous Development Sessions

Mentorees: Goal Setting - presentation and handout

Mentorees: Moving from Plan into Action - presentation and handout

additional items - Dealing with Energy Drains and Time Log

Benefits gained for the Mentoree

Increased self confidence and valuing their personal skill set/strength
Increased knowledge of the university system and how it work
Increased network across the whole university/ increased support network/ new contacts and friendship
Increased visibility through networking
Improved communication and interpersonal skills
Increased clarity of personal and professional goals.

What happens in a mentoring relationship that enables personal and professional growth to occur?

The power of the mentor BELIEVING in the mentoree's ability and encouraging the mentoree to do what they think they cannot do
The power of the mentor LISTENING to the mentoree
The power of receiving TRUTH in the form of constructive feedback.

Benefits of Mentoring for the organisation

Staff retention (research indicates that employees who receive effective coaching and mentoring plan to stay with the company for at least the next 5 years)
More effective staff
Demonstrates a commitment to training and development
Tangible and measurable gains if work tasks or projects are used as developmental tools
Improved communication across the organisation Increased motivation

Expectations

Use this list as thought starters, it is far from exhaustive. The important thing is to own your expectations for this mentoring relationship and communicate them clearly to your partner. If it helps print this list and select or modify the expectations that are important for you, including these in your Mentoring Contract.

As a Mentoree	As a Mentor	Mentors and Mentorees
Trust your mentor that your meetings will be kept private.	Assure your mentoree that your discussions are private and make sure they are.	Trust your mentor relationship, be open and honest with each other
Give your full and undivided attention to your mentor when you meet	Give your full and undivided attention to your mentoree when you meet	Be flexible with meetings and each other
Be responsible for your own learning and actions	Know the mentoree is responsible for their own learning and actions.	Participate as a partner in the mentoring process
Listen to and understand your mentor	Listen to and understand your mentoree	Be patient with each other
Don't look to your mentor for all the answers	Allow the mentoree space to be themselves and find their own feet.	Collaborate with each other in the mentoring process
Set goals and actively work toward accomplishing these	Assist your Mentoree with goal setting and achieveing these goals	Have realistic expectations of each other
Tell your mentor how they can be more helpful	Be willing to ask questions and gather information	Discuss issues in a specific, descriptive, non-judgmental manner
Keep an up-to-date journal	Keep an up-to-date journal	Keep your commitments
Actively seek feedback from others	Be supportive and encourage your mentoree	Make our discussions as positive as possible
Take calculated risks	Allow for, give your mentoree choices	Consider different opinions
Be willing to try new things and keep an open mind	Be willing to consider alternative methods	Accept and value each other as being different.
Figure things out for myself when I can	Offer help when I can but let your mentoree sometimes figure things out on their own	Take appropriate actions
Learn comments are constructive criticism, of ideas not of me	Acknowledge the Mentoree, their skills and personal attributes	Be open and honest with your mentoree
Don't be afraid to tell your mentor if things arent working	Allow your mentoree to tell you when things aren't working	Try to openly disagree without being disagreeable
Don't point blame at your mentor	Don't point blame at your mentoree	Try to understand all sides of an issue
Try to attend all Mentoree Workshops	Try to attend all Mentor Workshops	Practice new skills that I have been taught
		Don't have any hidden agendas
		Dont make promises you cannot keep
		Always do what you say you will do
		Do not over commit

The Role of a Mentoree

The role of the Mentoree requires you to:

Accept direction	Challenge preconceived ideas and positions	Be open to new challenges and ideas
Accept change	Set an objective career plan	Undertake challenging developmental activities
Receive open and honest feedback	Establish effective networks	Have a commitment to continual self-learning
Take responsibility for their own feelings and outcomes	Stretch their thinking	Develop a self-management mindset
Actively develop trusting and open relationships	Actively seek to increase their organisational awareness

Overall, Mentorees must accept that it is their role to manage their own career!

Characteristics of Effective Mentorees

Mentorees need to exhibit the following characteristics!

Consider those characteristics in which you feel you could use some development.

A desire to learn	Goal oriented	Conceptual ability
Determination to achieve	Self-confidence	Initiative
Assertiveness	People oriented

About Your Mentor

A mentor will usually be in a more senior position in the University than you and will have experience, knowledge and skills in certain areas that match with your goals and aims. They will provide support or advice in areas identified by their mentoree, on decisions concerning work, life or career, developing options and strategies and for coping with particular situations or problems. They may assist in skills development, networking and confidence-building. Above all, a mentor is someone who listens, is accessible and approachable and acts as a guide, facilitator or role model for the mentoree.

How Will You Be Matched?

Selected participants will be matched as closely as possible to each mentoree’s identified needs and the available mentors. Your response to the Expression of Interest Questionnaire will be used in the selection process. Please note that your responses may be provided to your mentor.

The Role of Your Manager/Supervisor in Mentoring Programs

It is important to consider the role of your Managers/Supervisors in Mentoring Programs.Sometimes they may feel that a certain measure of control has been taken from them in regard to overseeing your performance. It is vitally important that they understand that they still have your day to day operational performance management. It is the future career of the Mentoree, with all of its questions and development activities, that becomes part of the brief of your Mentor.

What you need to do for your supervisor

Keep your Supervisor/ Manager informed of your progress (if applicable

Let their Line Manager know in plenty of time of any commitments made to Mentors

Be aware of their duties to their current role