MENTORING: MENTORING: NEEDS, ROLES, AND YOUNEEDS, ROLES, AND YOU

Denise S. Carpenter, PHRDenise S. Carpenter, PHRHR-Training and DevelopmentHR-Training and DevelopmentApril 2006April 2006

What is your definition of the What is your definition of the word MENTOR?word MENTOR?

What are the roles or types of What are the roles or types of things you feel a mentor should things you feel a mentor should do?do?

Traditional Or Historical Traditional Or Historical Definition Of A MentorDefinition Of A Mentor A person with experience and A person with experience and

power within an organization power within an organization who adopts a younger, less who adopts a younger, less experienced protégé and helps experienced protégé and helps him or her up the organizational him or her up the organizational ladder.ladder.

Definition Of Mentor Has Definition Of Mentor Has Evolved IntoEvolved Into A person willing to share direct A person willing to share direct

experience in a life area experience in a life area (business, career, worklife (business, career, worklife balance, etc.) by assisting balance, etc.) by assisting someone ready to grow in the someone ready to grow in the same life area.same life area.

The Role of A MentorThe Role of A MentorPromote honest, confidential Promote honest, confidential sharingsharingProvide candid feedbackProvide candid feedbackShare unique experiences and Share unique experiences and knowledgeknowledgeGuide, counsel, support, coach, Guide, counsel, support, coach, and encourageand encourage

The Role Of A MentorThe Role Of A MentorTeachTeach EncourageEncourage CounselCounsel BefriendBefriendModelModel Affirm Affirm ListenListen AcceptAcceptInformInform Inspire Inspire ProbeProbe RelateRelateConfirmConfirm Challenge Challenge ClarifyClarifyPrescribePrescribe Support Support AdviseAdviseQuestionQuestion

You You Should NotShould Not Expect A Mentor ToExpect A Mentor To

Spend more time on the Spend more time on the mentor/mentee relationship than mentor/mentee relationship than you are willing to spendyou are willing to spendOffer you a new jobOffer you a new jobPerform your job responsibilitiesPerform your job responsibilitiesHelp extensively with personal Help extensively with personal problemsproblems

Own Your Own CareerOwn Your Own CareerYou are responsible for your career You are responsible for your career A mentor can provide valuable A mentor can provide valuable advice and help you reflect on, and advice and help you reflect on, and learn from, experienceslearn from, experiencesIt is up to you to take initiative, It is up to you to take initiative, demonstrate your capabilities, and demonstrate your capabilities, and seize opportunitiesseize opportunities

Finding A MentorFinding A MentorSelf select each otherSelf select each other

Ask reliable sourcesAsk reliable sources

Finding A MentorFinding A MentorDoes the individual have a past Does the individual have a past history of mentoring others?history of mentoring others?Does the person have experience in Does the person have experience in the life area you want to grow in?the life area you want to grow in?Is the person excited about learning Is the person excited about learning and continuing their own and continuing their own development?development?

Your Role As A MenteeYour Role As A MenteeBe open to hearing and Be open to hearing and considering new options, avoid considering new options, avoid defensivenessdefensivenessDefine needs clearlyDefine needs clearlySeek specific examplesSeek specific examplesKeep confidencesKeep confidences

Your Role As A MenteeYour Role As A MenteeRespect your mentor’s time – commit Respect your mentor’s time – commit to assignments, so that the support to assignments, so that the support you receive will be most beneficialyou receive will be most beneficialComplete appropriate “homework” Complete appropriate “homework” for meetings with the mentorfor meetings with the mentorAccept responsibility for your own Accept responsibility for your own careercareer

Mentoring Is Part Of Mentoring Is Part Of Being A ProfessionalBeing A Professional

Mentor othersMentor others

Mentor as part of your Mentor as part of your personal and professional personal and professional growthgrowth

Mentoring Is A Mentoring Is A Two-Way RelationshipTwo-Way Relationship

RespectRespectTrustTrustPartnership BuildingPartnership BuildingRealistic Expectations and Realistic Expectations and Self PerceptionSelf PerceptionTime is ValuableTime is Valuable

Life Evolves – Life Evolves – Careers EvolveCareers Evolve

You will not have the same You will not have the same mentor forevermentor foreverYou will outgrow your You will outgrow your mentormentorIn some instances you may In some instances you may need more than one mentorneed more than one mentor

What Gets Rewarded What Gets Rewarded Gets RepeatedGets Repeated

Who has mentored you?Who has mentored you?Who do you see who is Who do you see who is mentoring others?mentoring others?Acknowledge and express Acknowledge and express appreciation to people who appreciation to people who mentormentor

Mentoring Mentoring Is NotIs Not Just For Just For Faculty and A&P Employees Faculty and A&P Employees

Also an accountability/ Also an accountability/ responsibility of classified responsibility of classified employees employees

Recognize classified employees Recognize classified employees who mentorwho mentor

Mentoring Mentoring Is NotIs Not Just For Just For Faculty And A&P Employees Faculty And A&P Employees

You can formally recognize a You can formally recognize a mentor through the Committee mentor through the Committee on the Status of Women (CSW) on the Status of Women (CSW) President’s Award for Mentoring President’s Award for Mentoring WomenWomen

CSW President’s Award CSW President’s Award For Mentoring WomenFor Mentoring Women

Which classified employee(s) have Which classified employee(s) have mentored you or are mentoring you mentored you or are mentoring you now?now?Nominees and recipients can be a Nominees and recipients can be a female or male who mentor a femalefemale or male who mentor a femaleThe mentor relationship may be a The mentor relationship may be a close, one-on-one personal close, one-on-one personal association, or be a brief encounter association, or be a brief encounter with a profound effect or have a with a profound effect or have a beneficial life-altering effectbeneficial life-altering effect

““As I grow, part of my emotional As I grow, part of my emotional survival plan must be to actively survival plan must be to actively seek inspiration instead of seek inspiration instead of passively waiting for it to find passively waiting for it to find me.”me.”

-- Bebe Moore Campbell-- Bebe Moore Campbell

References For This References For This Presentation And Presentation And “Denise’s Tips” Sheets“Denise’s Tips” Sheets

Carr-Ruffino, N. 2004. “The Carr-Ruffino, N. 2004. “The Promotable Woman”.Promotable Woman”.““Mentor Handbook”, Office of Civilian Mentor Handbook”, Office of Civilian Personnel Manemnt, Dept. of Navy, Personnel Manemnt, Dept. of Navy, June 1993.June 1993.Kirchem, RG. 1998. “Mentoring Kirchem, RG. 1998. “Mentoring EmployeesEmployees““Women In Focus Forum”, Chambers Women In Focus Forum”, Chambers Communications and Training Communications and Training Techniques, LLC. 2003.Techniques, LLC. 2003.

References For This References For This Presentation And Presentation And “Denise’s Tips” Sheets“Denise’s Tips” Sheets

O’Neill, PN. 2005. “Mentoring: Needs, O’Neill, PN. 2005. “Mentoring: Needs, Roles, Process and Selection for Your Roles, Process and Selection for Your AALDP Initiative”.AALDP Initiative”.Mason, C. and Bailey, E. “Benefits and Mason, C. and Bailey, E. “Benefits and Pitfalls of Mentoring”Pitfalls of Mentoring”

Thank You for Your Time!Thank You for Your Time!