|
|
|
|
 |
   |
 |
 |
 |
|
    |
About Facilitated Mentoring
|
The orientation and training session is a vital part of preparing for the mentoring process. The IAA's pilot program held separate trainings for mentors and mentees, however future programs may include a training session at which mentors and mentees participate together. It is important for each group to have an opportunity to meet on its own as a cohort of mentor or mentee peers. While separate trainings can help build camaraderie around those at similar stages in their careers and help focus the session's content, a session at which both mentors and mentees participate and experience the same preparation activities can also facilitate the partnership aspect of their relationship. An alternative model you may decide to develop on your own could include both groups meeting together with separate break out sessions for mentors and mentees. The information provided here is based on IAA's model. Using this as your foundation, you may choose to tailor your training sessions to your own needs or incorporate other researched methods. Creating Successful Mentoring Experiences and Other Training Topics Final Recommendations for Training Sessions
How you choose to conduct your training workshop is ultimately dependent on you and your organization's style, culture and needs. The Mentor and Mentee Training Session sample agendas included here can be used as prompters, guides or templates. An authentic training workshop is one that is designed and facilitated using a style that is your own, thus even the strictest use of the tools included here requires you to develop your own script based on the information found in this website and other resources. The following are helpful guidelines: Each training session begins with time for each person to introduce themselves and share a little bit about themselves (e.g. position, organizational affiliation, related experience, and goals for participation). The sponsoring organization should provide an overview of the program's history, its goals, the timeline and what is expected of the participants. It is also helpful to explain to participants what they can expect from the sponsoring organization regarding facilitation and support. This will help each participant understand their role within the context of the larger initiative. Remember the critical aspects of this overview are your purpose for developing the program, your goals, desired outcomes and your expectations for the role each mentor and mentee will play.
Each training session should also include general information about what makes for a successful mentoring relationship. Refer them to the Tip Sheets in their packets. From there, the sessions proceed differently as each one, mentor and mentee, has a different role to play and thus different orientation needs. The information you present around these topic areas is found in the Overview and FAQ's section, linked tip sheets and through your own research and understanding. The sample training agenda provides you with some ideas for training topics that include:
At the end of the session you can close by:
Final Recommendations for Training Sessions The training session is one of the most important components for ensuring a successful partnership. Even a less than perfectly matched pair can work well together and achieve important outcomes if they are properly trained. Because this is a voluntary program and it will require a commitment of time and energy on the part of each participant, there can be a tendency on part of facilitators to want to make it seem easy or less cumbersome for the participants. However, reducing the training hours, resource lists, check-in calls or evaluation tools only does a disservice to all of those involved.
A training session that can meet these ends has gone a long ways towards ensuring successful program outcomes.
Illinois Arts Alliance/Foundation |
