Mentoring Services

Partnership Beyond

It is a good idea to define the mentoring partnership before you begin the actual mentoring. This can be done via the agreement, one part of which deals with the duration of the partnership. With an undefined duration it is possible that it will not fulfill it's goals, as there are no deadlines involved. By planning ahead and setting targets, both the mentee and mentor have something to strive for, and a sense of satisfaction can be felt by both when these are achieved.

Setting a duration does not mean setting it in concrete. Indeed once the partnership has been established you should regularly review the aims and objectives to ensure you are maximising the benefits to both of you.

When it becomes clear to both parties that the partnership has run it's course, a final review meeting should be arranged, where both parties can discuss what has been achieved, or in some cases what has not happened and why. It is not suggested that following this final meeting there should be no further contact between the mentor and mentee, as both should view the experience as an extension of their networking activities. Continuing to exchange e-mails will ensure that the partnership, should both parties wish it, becomes a potentially career-long acquaintance.

Should the partnership prove unsuccessful, this should not be seen as a failure on the part of either member. It may well be that the goals of the mentor and mentee are incompatible, or that personality clashes made it unworkable. In this case, both partners need to face this and agree to part. It may be that the mentor can suggest an alternative person to take on the mentee, although this will not always be the case.

Should the mentoring partnership prove benefical to both parties. Both mentor and mentee will move on to develop their next stage of relationship.