Mentoring Guidelines: Structure
It is essential that mentors and learners define and agree a structure for the relationship. This structure may be written down as a contract that can be highly rigid or very loose. This ensures shared goals and understanding of the process and can assist in avoiding problems, confusion or disappointment. Most organisational schemes will provide a basic structure for a mentoring relationship.
Key issues to address include:
- Objectives for the learner and the mentor
- Boundaries to issues covered, e.g. personal problems excluded?
- Methods for communication: face-to-face meetings, telephone, email
- Frequency and length of meetings: regular, on demand, by arrangement
- Location of meetings: a work place or neutral ground
- Is an agenda required? Who will set it? Will minutes be kept? By whom?
- How will progress be reviewed? Will it relate to objectives?
- Arrangements for ending the relationship. It can be time limited or end when either partner feels it is no longer of value or they cannot maintain the commitment.
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Updated: 05 February 2006