Page 11 - Demo

Introduction 11
• State the problem as you see it and confirm that your mentee also recognizes it.
• Propose a positive strategy or tactics that the mentee can apply.
• Focus on actions that your mentee can take now and in the future
that don’t rely on outside factors or conditions.
• Check for understanding and buy-in from the mentee.
• Make sure that your mentee understands what you are proposing
and that s/he feels confident in taking the proposed action. If not, discuss why not. You may have an incomplete understanding of the situation, or your strategy may not fit the mentee’s personal style.
Mentees
Regarding mentees, Campbell and MacTaggart noted in Educause Review (2020) that
There seems to be an unstated assumption that being a mentor is active while being a mentee is passive. Perhaps this assumption needs to be challenged ... One important aspect that distinguishes successful men- torship experiences from unsuccessful ones is how they are designed. The best versions are intentional and focused. They create the expec- tation and space for mentees to take ownership of their experiences instead of relying on their mentors to “take them under their wing.”
Among the recommendations of Campbell and MacTaggart are that
Mentees should drive the mentorship relationships ... Mentees should set goals to review with their mentors, agree on the amount of time each person can invest, and suggest how they would like to work with their mentors ... Mentees who grow the most as a result of the men- torship experience are often the clearest on what they want and need from it. Mentees should be specific about their goals and articulate how mentors can help them the most.
Guidelines for mentees should be made known to those entering a men- toring program, and especially as it pertains to online mentoring, the fol- lowing principles should also be kept in mind for mentees:
• Stay in communication with your mentor, and if unable to meet or touch base, show that you value mentor’s efforts and time – let men- tor know in advance, suggest alternate times to meet, or different or preferred modes of communication. There are many options for com- municating online now, so it’s best to have an early conversation about preferences (perhaps for different types of situations), and of course, if