2. The Mentor Role
| Roles and Responsibilities • Experienced and trusted adviser. • Gives information about career development and the organisation. • Facilitates the Mentee professional growth. • Guide and confidante. • Trustworthy person who supports, advises and encourages, constructive comments. • Helps find solutions. • Model of competence. • Reflects what is expected and valued in the organisation. • Example or role model. Characteristics • Must be volunteers interested in the programme and what is intended to accomplish. • Prepared to invest time and effort in the relationship. • Effective one-on-one communications who are able to express ideas. • Awareness of diversity issues with a willingness to accept and value alternative cultures and perspectives. • Self-awareness (understanding themselves) and behavioural awareness (understanding others). • Business or professional shrewdness and a good sense of proportion. • Commitment to their own learning and a strong interest in developing others. • Relationship management skills (especially rapport building) and the ability to set a pursue clear goals. • Has extensive experience, recognised know-how, a broad view and understanding of the organisation. • Respected by others, has influence and is secure in own position. Potential Benefits • Personal satisfaction in sharing expertise and experiences and in helping less experienced persons. • Helping to train the leaders of tomorrow. • Enriches one’s information and views of the organisation. • Opportunity to encounter new ways of thinking and new perspectives and have their assumptions regarding the organisation challenged. • Feeling of usefulness and chance to re-energise self, recognition. • Development of own style of management and supervision. • Opportunities to test new ideas.  Click to go to: 3. Matching Mentor and Mentee |
