Mentoring Workshop Notes Mentors: not necessarily experts in a subject but extremely good listeners and an inspiring source of support. These were some of our thoughts after a double workshop on Woodcraft Folk's mentoring scheme, which is one of the main ways we can empower young leaders in the organisation. We discussed our own experiences of being mentored, the qualities of a good mentor, and what the ground rules might be for an effective mentoring relationship, including expectations, confidentiality and timescale. Our own listening skills were particularly tested in a discussion activity where each speaker had to summarise the points of the previous speaker before being able to make their own point. An interesting idea that came up more than once was that the relationship is a very twoway one, where the mentor can learn from their mentee, and the mentee can give feedback on how the mentor is doing. All in all, very humbling and inspiring! Ground Rules Schedule meetings Reason and sensible warn if outside schedule Working these out between Expectations (not your mother) Boundaries of confidentiality timescale opt out for either equal relationship feedback Types of mentor mentee knows what they need or general help exhaust a mentor general mentor Task specific filter/direct in a direction
different ways of explaining Adrian – green party councillor →dedication →commitment →longevity best friend →open hearted →never saw badness, always saw goodness in people
Mentors we have had... swimming teacher / training tutor →inspire confidence →nice person →passing on skills →brilliant communication skills + finding
non-judgemental supportive stretch people but not allow to fail relate to people at their own level sounding board not saying “no” but making sure ideas are formed properly “expanding horizons” inspiring to read more “trust” let them go “form own ideas” gentle tap to re-direct rather than criticism