teacher r u r ccoaoaccchhh o s t n i v n ......r a friend aally mentor. mentor guide | 1 mentor...
TRANSCRIPT
MENTOR GUIDE
TEACHERTEACHERTEACHERTEACHER
GUIDEGUIDEGUIDEGUIDEMODELMODELMODELMODEL
HELHELHELHEL
IONIONIONION
CONCONCONCONCOACHCOACHCOACH
ROLEROLEROLE
PAR
TNER
PAR
TNER
PAR
TNER
PAR
TNER
GU
IDE
GU
IDE
GU
IDE
GU
IDE
ASSOCIATEASSOCIATEASSOCIATE
ADVOCATEADVOCATEADVOCATEADVOCATE
LELELETUTUTUTUEXPERTEXPERTEXPERT
CO
UN
CO
UN
CO
UN
VETERANVETERANVETERANVETERAN
INSTRUCTORINSTRUCTORINSTRUCTORINSTRUCTOR
AD
VIS
OR
AD
VIS
OR
AD
VIS
OR
COUNSELLORCOUNSELLORCOUNSELLORCOUNSELLORLE
AD
ERLE
AD
ERLE
AD
ERLE
AD
ER
FRIE
ND
FRIE
ND
FRIE
ND
FRIE
ND
ALLYALLYALLYALLYMENTORMENTORMENTORMENTOR
MENTOR GUIDE | 1
MENTOR GUIDE
Welcome to the Certification Mentor Program, created by the HR Certification Institute.
Thank you for giving us your time and support as a volunteer mentor. Without the
commitment of HR professionals like you, we would not be able to meet our mission.
Throughout the Certification Mentor Program, we will provide you with resources, support
and the information you will need to assist you in facilitating your mentoring relationship.
In this guide, we offer advice and tips on how to begin the relationship, what will be
expected of you, advice on communicating online and how to work with your mentee.
Please remember that we are here to assist you during your time as a mentor in our
Certification Mentor Program. Thank you again for your commitment to the HR profession
as well as to your role as a mentor.
Sincerely,
The HR Certification Institute
MENTOR GUIDE | 2
MENTOR ExPECTaTIONS aND REqUIREMENTS
Mentors are expected to:
• Sharetheirexperienceandknowledgewiththeirmentee
• Workwithinthetimeframegiventomeetmentee’sneedsandexpectations
• AssistmenteewithpreparingforHRcertificationexam(s)
• ExplaintothementeehowHRcertificationcanoffercareerbenefits
• ExplainthevaluethatHRcertificationcanofferbothprofessionally&personally
• Assistmenteewithdevelopingcurrentjobskillsandhelpthementeesetrealisticcareergoals
• Providefeedbackandconstructivecriticism
Mentors are not expected to:
• Drivethementoringrelationship
• Completetasksforthementee
• Haveimmediateanswerstoallofyourmentee’squestions
• Becomeapersonalfriendtomentee
• Providementeewithadviceonpersonalissuesorproblems
Mentor requirements:
• AdheretoCertificationMentorProgrampoliciesandprocedures
• Completeprogramtraining
• Committotheprogramatleastthreehoursperweek
• Gainanunderstandingofmentee’sneedsandexpectationsandcreateaplanofhowyouandyourmenteearegoingaboutmeetingthem
• Adheretomentoringrelationshipagreementbetweenmentorandmentee
• Completerequiredprogramactivities
• Adheretoprogramworkflow
• Creategoalandclosureplan
• Reviewoutcomeoftherelationshipwithmenteeatclosure
MENTOR GUIDE | 3
MENTOR’S OvERall GOal IN THE CERTIfICaTION MENTOR PROGRaMAsamentorintheHRCertificationInstitute’sCertificationMentorProgram,youaretoassistyourmenteewithstrategiesforsuccessinachievingcertification,aswellashelpingdefineacareerpathandprofessionalgoals.AsacertifiedHRprofessional,youunderstandthevalueandheightsthatonecanachieveintheprofessionwithacertification.Yourroleistohelpyourmenteebetterunderstandthatvalue.
Mentor’s overall task to accomplish this goal is to work with your mentee to answer these questions:
• WhydoIwanttobecomecertified?
• WhatdoIexpecttoaccomplishinmycareerafterbecomingcertified?
• WhydidIselectthecertificationthatIattemptedtoachieve?
• DoesmycurrentHRrolealigntothebodyofknowledgeofthecertificationIattemptedtoachieve?
• DidIselectthecorrectcertificationtoachieve?
• HowdidIstudyandprepareforthecertificationexam?
• WhydidIselectthatmethod?
• HowelsecouldIhavestudiedandpreparedforthecertificationexam?
• AmIreadytoearnmyHRcertification?
• AlongwithearninganHRcertification,whatadditionalactionscanItaketoaccomplishmycareergoals?
Whenyouandyourmenteebegintocreategoalstoaccomplishduringyourtimetogether,youwanttoensurethattheoutcomewillassistwithansweringtheabovequestions.Attheendofthementoringrelationship,you’llwanttohavemetyourmentoringrelationshipgoalsandhelpedyourmenteeanswerthequestionslistedabove.
MENTOR GUIDE | 4
aRE YOU MENTOR REaDY?Whatdoesamentorlooklike?Amentorisgenerouswithpraiseandpositivereinforcementandknowshowtoletthementeefindoutwhereheorshewentwrong.Mentorsarenotafraidtoinvestagooddealofthemselvesinanotherperson.
Should I mentor?
• AmIateamplayer?
• DoIconsiderthefeelingsofothers?
• AmIsupportiveandencouraging?
• DoIknowhowtolisten?
• DoIknowhowtocommunicatewell?
• DoIhavethetimetocommit,andamIwillingtomaketime?
• DoIlovetheprofessionenoughtowanttosharethatenthusiasmwithothers?
• DootherstrustmeanddoI,inturn,trustthem?
• CanIexplainmypointofviewwithoutgrowingimpatient?
Ifyouansweredyestomostofthesequestions,thenyoumorethanlikelyhavewhatittakestobeamentor.
A good mentor:
• Hasapositiveattitude
• Iswillingtodevotetimeandenergytohelpingothers
• Iswillingtosharepersonalexperienceandskills
• Isabletoprovideandreceivepositiveandnegativefeedback
• Treatsotherswithrespect
• Followsthroughwithcommitments
• Isabletomaintaintrustandconfidentiality
Mentoringcallsonyounotonlytopassonyourknowledge,skillsandexperiencebutalsoyourattitudes.Inmentoringyouteachbyexample.
Who Leads the Mentoring Relationship?Thementeesetsthestage:heorshedeterminesgoalsandcreatestheatmosphereforthetypeofmentoringrelationshipyouwillhaveforthenextsixmonths.Thementeewillletyouknowwhatisneededfromyou.Themoreinitiativethementeetakes,themoreproductivetherelationship.Youaretheretoguideandassist,thementeedoesthedriving.
MENTOR GUIDE | 5
THE fIRST MEETINGFirstimpressionslastforever.Thefirstmeetingisthemostimportantmeetingofthementoringrelationship.Thisisthetimewhenbothmentorandmenteebeginbuildingtrustandrapportwithoneanother.Thementeemustperceivethementorassomeonewhoinstillsconfidenceandprofessionalrespect.Thiswillbedeterminedinthatfirstmeeting.
Whenmentorandmenteefirstconnect,itisbesttodiscussthefirstmeeting.Determinethebesttime,meansofcommunicationand,mostimportantly,whatwillbediscussed.Mentorsmayevenwanttocreateanagendatoensurealltopicsthatwereagreedupongetcoveredandthetimespentisutilizedeffectively.Keepinmindthefirstmeetingshouldbetheonlymeetinginwhichyouarethemaindriver.
What to SayThisistheperfectoccasionforicebreakers.Anyideasoractivitiesyoucanbringtothemeetingtofacilitatediscussionwithyourmenteeishelpful.Thementeemayfeelintimidatedornervousbecauseyouareinapositiontheyadmireanddesiretoachieve.Helpingyourmenteefeelcomfortableshouldbeapriority.
Here are some tips that should be kept in mind for all meetings:
• Askopen-endedquestions(makeyourmenteegiveyoumorethanyesornoasananswer)
• Don’tjustquestion,haveaconversation
• Summarizeanyagreed-upontaskstobecompletedbeforethenextmeeting
Questions to ask your mentee:
• Tellmealittleaboutyourself
» Whatisyourroleatwork?(askformorebackgroundonprofileinformationrelatedtoworkandaddmorespecificssuchascompany,industry,supervisionresponsibility,currentprojects)
» Whatrolesdoyouhaveinyourpersonallife?(husband/wife,children,pets,volunteeractivities)
» Whatareyourinterestsandhobbies?
• ExpandonwhyyouwantedtobeamenteeintheCertificationMentorProgram
• Tellmealittleaboutwhattypeoflearneryouare
• Whatdoyouexpectfrommeasyourmentor?
• Doyouhaveanyspecificcareergoals,anddoyouneedhelpcreatingorrefiningthem?
• HowdoyouseeHRcertificationassistingyouinreachingyourgoals?
MENTOR GUIDE | 6
Becertaintosharetheanswerstothesesamequestionsaboutyourselfwiththementee.Includethecertificationsyouholdandwhyyoudecidedtoearnthem.Thefirstmeetingalsocanbeagoodtimetobegindiscussinghowthementeewouldliketostructurethementoringrelationship.Determinethebestmeetingtimesandfrequency,themeansofcommunicationwithwhichyouarebothmostcomfortable,howfeedbackshouldbepresentedandanyparametersorguidelinesyoubothwanttoputontherelationship(timesnottocall,amountoftimeexpectedtoreceivearesponsetoanemail,etc.).
Iftimeallows,begintotalkaboutthegoalsyourmenteewouldliketosetforthesix-monthrelationship.Ifheorshehasnotthoughtaboutthatyet,setitasanactionitemforthenextmeetingsothatyoubothgetthemostoutofthetimeyouarecommittingtothementor/menteerelationship.Tocloseoutthefirstmeeting,discussthenextmeetingdateandtimeandcreateanagendatogetherontopicstobeaddressed.
MENTORING RElaTIONSHIP ENGaGEMENTToassistinkeepingyourmentoringrelationshipmoving,wehavebuiltinmandatoryactivitiestoconductwithyourmentee.Asmentionedintheprogramhandbook,thereisaworkflowthattheseactivitiesshouldfollow.Pleasedonotrelyontheseactivitiesalone.Bringyourpastmentoring,work,volunteer,classroomandotherexperiencestotherelationshiptoenhanceitforyourmentee.Thementeeisaspongereadytolearnfromyouanddevelopnewgoalsandinsightsfromtherelationship.Comewitheverythingyouhavetoenhanceyourmentee’sknowledge,puthimorheronacareerpathtosuccessandsetacourseforpreparationandsuccessfulcompletionoftheHRcertificationexam.
Activities included in program workflow:
• Let’sWorkTogether(guideusedtohelpdefinethetermsofthementoringrelationship)
• SettingtheBar(setgoalsandactionplanforaccomplishinggoals)
• TimetoSayGoodbye(createclosure/exitplan)
• MentoringRelationshipAgreement
• HowDidIScore?(reviewmentee’sscorereportfromcertificationexam(s)taken)
• HowamIDoing?(progressreports–checkinonhowmentorandmenteearedoingwiththegoalsthatwereset)
• HowAreWeDoing?(3surveysgiventhroughoutthesix-monthrelationshiptolearnhowtheprogramisgoingfortheparticipants)
• PrepareforHRCertification(reviewofthestudymethodsandmaterialsavailabletoHRprofessionalstoprepareforexam)
• WhenIGrowUp(careerweekdiscussions)
MENTOR GUIDE | 7
Thegoalofeachactivityistoensurethatbothyouandyourmenteehavethesameunderstandingofwhatneedstotakeplaceduringyourtimetogether.Settinggoalsassistswithprovidingatargetfortherelationship.Withbothparticipantsheadinginthesamedirection,thereisaclearunderstandingofwhereyouaregoingasateam.Creatingaplanofactionhelpsyouclearlystatehowyouaregoingtogetthereandthemeansof“transportation”youwillusetogettoyourfinaldestination.Havingaclosure/exitplanensuresthatyouandyourmenteehavetakentimetolookbackatyourtimetogethertoascertainwhetherthereareanyaspectsoftherelationshipthatweremissed.Italsoallowsyoutoensurethatyouhavemettheexpectationsofyourmentee.Whenyouincludealltheseelements,inadditiontodefiningyourrelationshipinanagreementbetweenmentorandmentee,thisshowsyouhaveamutualunderstandingandcommitmenttothementoringrelationship.
Helpful activities
• Sharenewslettersthatcoverareasofinterests
• Introducementeetonetworkingopportunities,eitherthroughyourownnetworkorbyintroducinghimorhertoestablished,relevantnetworks
• Informmenteeofrelevantconferences,seminarsorworkshops
• Shareyourpastexperienceandthekeyactionsthatledtosuccessinyourcareer
• Suggestfurthereducationortraining,ifneeded
Keepinmindthattheaboveactivitiesarejustaframeworkforyouandyourmentee.Youbothmustdeterminehowbesttoworktogether;whenitistimetomoveontothenextactivity;whatadditionalactivitiescouldbeincluded;andhowbesttocommunicate,coachandlearntogether.
FeedbackItiscriticaltothementoringrelationshipthatbothyouandyourmenteeagreeonhowtogiveandtakefeedback.Mentorsshouldmakecertainthattheyhaveaclearunderstandingofhowtheirmenteewantstoreceivefeedback,thetypeoffeedbackthatisexpectedandhowfollowuptothefeedbackisdelivered.Thisincludestheforumusedtocommunicatefeedback,thetoneandattitudefeedbackisdeliveredinandthepresentationoffeedback.Thisunderstandingshouldbedefinedfromthebeginningoftherelationship.
MENTOR GUIDE | 8
Feedback tips
• Givefeedbackasquicklyafterdemonstratedactionthatpromptsthefeedbackisseen
• Criticizetheskill,nottheperson
• Nosarcasmoraggression
• Noarguing.Ifmenteebecomesdefensivewhenfeedbackisgiven,acceptitbutaskthatyourcommentsbeconsidered
Mentorsdonotforgetthatyoushouldbeopentofeedbackaswell.Itisatwo-waystreet.Feedbackshouldbegivenandreceivedbybothyouandyourmentee.Ifyouarenotreceivingfeedback,makecertaintoaskforit.
MENTORING ONlINEOneofthebiggestadvantagesincreatingavirtualmentoringprogramisthatitoffersgreateropportunitiesforreachingmoreparticipants.TheHRCertificationInstitutehasmorethan120,000certifiedHRprofessionalsinmorethan80countries.Thismeanswecouldnotletbordersbethebarriertoformingaperfectmentorandmenteematch.However,wedorealizethatconnectingonlineremovestheopportunityformentorandmenteetoconnectfacetoface,particularlyifmilesofroadstandbetweenthem.Inthissection,wewilladdresswaystoeffectivelyconnectwithyourmentee,nomatterthedistancebetweenyou.
Hereareafewthingstokeepinmind:Thesameguidelinesforatraditionalmentoringprogramapplyhere.Everythingyouwoulddoasamentorinatraditionalsettingworksinavirtualsetting.Whennecessaryandpossible,connectwithyourmenteeviaphone.Thishelpstocreatetherealfactorofyourvirtualrelationship.Makeuseofvideoconferencingtools,suchasSkype,toheightenthepersonalconnectionbetweenyouandyourmentee.
Say What You MeanTocommunicatewellonlineisconsideredanarttomaster.Therearetimesthatemailsoronlinemessagesaresentandthemessageisnotreceivedinthemanneritwasintended.Itisimportanttothinkthroughthegoalofyourmessage.Askyourselfwhatyouwantthereceivertogainfromreadingyourmessage.Beforesending,re-readwhatyouhavewrittenoutloud.Makecertainthatyourmessagesaysexactlywhatisintended.
MENTOR GUIDE | 9
When writing emails or any other electronic messages keep in mind:
• Ahastilywrittenemailcanbeinterpretedasdisinterested
• Disinterestcanbeconveyedwithincorrectgrammar,incompletesentencesandnumerousspellingmistakes
• Cuteemailsymbolsdonotreplacegoodwritingandcanaidinmisinterpretationofmessage
Non-verbalcuesweighheavilyinavirtualenvironment.Youwanttosendtherightmessagewitheveryinteractionyouhavewithyourmentee.
There are a few things you can do to help:
• Keepyourmeetingsandbeontime
• Combineconnectingbyemailwithphonecallsorvideoconferences
• Useactivelisteningskillstoassessthementoringrelationshipregularly
• Ifpossible,meetinperson(thiscanoccurifthereisaconferencebothyouandyourmenteewillbeattending,aneventyoubothhappentoparticipateinorifyouarecloselylocatedtooneanother)
BRINGING THE RElaTIONSHIP TO a ClOSEYouwanttoendyourmentoringrelationshipproperly.Itisimportanttowrapuptherelationshipinsteadofabruptlystoppingtheconnections.Spendsometimeafewweeksbeforetheendofthesixmonthsreviewingyourclosure/exitplan.Spendtimetogetherlookingatwhereyoucurrentlyareintherelationshipandensuringthatgoalshavebeencompleted.Makeanynecessaryadjustmentstoensurethatallexpectationsaremetandbothmentorandmenteearesatisfiedwiththeresults.
Thisisalsoagreattimetodiscusswhatyoubothlearnedthroughoutyourtimetogether.Whatdoyouandyourmenteebothplantotakeawayfromyourconnection?Reviewwithmenteethenextstepstheyshouldtake.Suggestanyareastheyshouldcontinuetofocuson,anyactionstheyshouldengageinorfollowupon.Exploretogetherwhatthefuturehastoofferthementee.
Lastly,discussanyongoingtermsoftherelationship.Youandyourmenteecandecidetokeepintouchoncetheofficialrelationshipiscomplete.Thisdecisionmustbemadetogether.Ifbothmentorandmenteewouldliketocontinueamentoringrelationship,besuretotalkaboutwhatthatwilllooklike.Youwouldwanttoagreeonfrequencyofcontact,forumsusedtomakecontact,whatwillcontinuetobeworkedonandifyouwanttodesignateanendingtimetotherelationship.
MENTOR GUIDE | 10
CelebrateEndingamentoringrelationshipisatimetocelebrate.Lookingbackatallthathasbeenaccomplished,learnedandgainedfromtherelationshiparemomentstopraise.Comeupwithhowyouwanttoacknowledgeallthatyouandyourmenteehavedonetogether.
Suggestions for celebrating
• Sendmenteeanoteandincludeanycommentsyouwishtoshareabouttheexperience
• Sendmenteeane-cardandincludeallthemilestonesreachedduringthementoringrelationship
• HavecakeandicecreamoverSkype
• Sendasmalltokentomentee
ENDING THE RElaTIONSHIP EaRlYYoumayfindthatthereisaneedtoendtherelationshipsoonerthanexpected.Anunexpectedeventmayoccurinthepersonalorprofessionallifeofthementorormentee,theprogrammaybetakingmoretimethanoneorbothofyouexpectedoryouandyourmenteemaydiscoveryouarenotthebestfit.
Here are some signs that it could be time to move on:
• Thereareotherdemandsinyourlifethataredistractingyoufromcommittingtotheprogramcompletely
• Therehavebeennumeroustimeswheremiscommunicationbecomesanobstacletoprogressinthementoringrelationship
• Duringmeetingswiththementee,youbecomeboredand/orannoyed
• Whenitseemsthatyouandyourmenteehavenothingtodiscuss
• Thereareproblemsinthementoringrelationship,buttheyhaveneverbeendiscussed
Wesuggestthatyouevaluateyourselfbeforeendingtherelationship.Mentoringisapartnership,andittakestwopeopletomakeitsuccessful.Askyourself,whatrolehaveIplayedintheaspectoftherelationshipthatisnotworking?Also,takethetimetothinkthroughhowyoumayimproveonyourownperformance.
Onceyouhavediscoveredwhatyoucandobetter,reachouttoyourmenteeandtalkthroughyourdiscovery.Askyourmenteetodothesameselfevaluation.Finally,talkabouthowyoubothcanmoveforwardtoimprovetherelationship.Ifyoufindthatimprovementwillnothelptherelationship,reachouttotheprogram’scoordinatorforthenextstepstowardendingtherelationshipearly.Thisshouldbethelaststep.
and our CertifiCation Matters Blog
Web site: www.hrci.org © 2012 HRCI
follow us on
HR Certification Institute
1800 Duke Street
Alexandria, Virginia, USA 22314
+1-866-898-4724 (US Toll Free) +1-703-535-6000 (International)
Fax +1-703-535-6474
Thank you again for your time and becoming a mentor in our Certification Mentor Program.
We hope you find the tips and suggestions helpful. lastly, remember to include fun in your
mentoring experience!
Do not hesitate to contact us at any point and time with questions.
#C12-045