Mentoring

The complexity of the issues and nature of challenges now facing many organisations mean that individuals need to adapt quickly and develop new competencies. Paired support relationships like mentoring can, when linked to key strategic organisational goals, lead to greater success.

What is Mentoring?

A definition from Christopher Conway’s ‘Strategies for Mentoring’ states:

“Mentoring in organisations is a private relationship between two individuals based on a mutual desire for development towards an organisational objective. The relationship is a non-reporting one and infringes none of the organisational structures in place. It is additional to other forms of assistance, not a replacement”.

Why Mentoring is Important.

Recent management surveys in the UK have unfortunately suggested that what cause deep stress to individuals are not only remote decision making by senior managers, but constant delays in taking decisions. Can it be that there is a real lack of confidence or even competence in the management ranks? In any event, how can we help to change this type of mindset?Possibly one of the things that might help to improve the process and quality of decision making would be regular opportunities to step outside of the frame and look at the main issues facing us as individual managers in organisations. Mentoring, if properly thought out, is not the only answer to this, but it can help to underpin change in this context. Many managers testify that having a mentor has helped them to take a realistic view of their contribution at work and their place in the organisation.

“Having Rama as my mentor in Whitbread allowed me to succeed in many areas of personal development I never thought were possible. Over the years as I progressed up the management ladder, Rama was always there to point me in the right direction. Without him I wouldn’t be sitting here in the Pyrenees ‘living my dream’.”
Alistair Norman, Director, Pyrenees Adventures

Benefits seen in having external Mentors are:

- objectivity
- confidentiality
- Independence
- sounding board
- knowledge
- contacts
- experience

Mentees are known to gain the following benefits:

- clarity of personal vision
- knowledge of barriers to personal performance
- improved self-confidence
- helping to overcome barriers
- improved ability to handle stress

Qualities of a good Mentor:

- - are open about themselves
  - are open about the business
  - obtain feedback
  - probe
  - make it two way
  - are caring
  - are human
  - are available
  - are committed
  - are good listeners
  - are counsellors

Silica Associates have over 20 years experience of Management in Blue Chip companies and have assisted individuals at different levels in both professional and personal aspirations.