M1.02. Designing and planning the mentoring process

Question 8

Re. 8. How mentors and mentees should be prepared to start the programme implementation?

The mentoring process requires preparation from both sides. Mentors should know the programme's goals, know what objectives the organisation wants to accomplish. Mentors should also know any technical and logistic requirements (e.g. method of preparation and handover of documentation). Communication skills and competencies constitute a very important element from the point of view of mentors' preparation. If possible, it is good to organise workshops/training for mentors.
While commencing the mentoring process, the mentee should know principles based on which the mentoring process would be executed, as well as rights and obligations of the parties.

From the mentee's point of view, it is very important to determine the goals to be accomplished. Prior to the commencement of the mentoring programme, the mentee should initially formulate the goals it wants to accomplish. These goals may be:

  • cognitive – related to the acquisition of knowledge needed at work (in their formulation the following questions are helpful: what do I not know, what do I not understand, what is unclear for me?)
  • behavioural – related to strenghtening of competencies and skills within the scope of work performance, application of procedures (in their formulation the following questions are helpful: what can I not do?)
  • affective – concerning the formation of attitudes and motivations (in their formulation the following questions are helpful: what do I not want to do, what am I afraid of as a challenge?)

Within the framework of preparation for the mentoring programme implementation, future mentees should be provided with participation in training (also e-training), during which mentees will be able to become acquainted with the assumption of the entire programme and to define the goals they want to accomplish.
Preparation of mentors and mentees for the programme implementation should also include the selection of mentor-mentee pairs. The situation when the mentee chooses its mentor is the most beneficial (e.g. during specially organised workshops), as it makes the relation stronger and more effective.