What Is Mentoring?

Definition of Mentoring
Benefits of Mentoring
Mentors
Differences between Coaching and Mentoring
HRINZ Mentoring Programme

Definition of Mentoring

There are many definitions for what mentoring is about. Mentoring in simple terms can be defined as a relationship or link established between someone who is experienced and someone who is not.

The experienced mentor will share with the mentee their lessons learned and any relevant insights that the mentee may benefit from when confronting life or career issues.

The relationship is facilitated by a specific mentoring agenda comprising several mentoring processes (initiated usually by the mentor) with the goal being that the mentee achieves or at least moves toward achieving their personal goals and/or professional career goals.

So what are the benefits of Mentoring?

Well the benefits for a Mentee is that they will have the opportunity to develop and grow their self awareness and professional committement. As well as the opportunity to have access to an experience mentor that will be willing to share their knowledge, views and insights into power, politics and how to get things done in an informal and formal manner within some organisations.

The mentor will assist you in making realistic plans and objectives for improving your effectiveness and developing your potential, give you the opportunity to reflect and challenge your own thinking, encourage greater adaptability and willingness to change and providing constructive feedback on your goals. A mentor will also allow the luxury of talking to an independent impartial confidante who is not your manager, they will have the ability to listen to your issues and afford you the opportunity to vent unrestictely and support you in achieving your goals.

Mentee's must be aware that Mentors, are not there to find you a job, to solve all your problems, are not your workhorse or there to be your new best friend.

To find out more information on, "I am a Mentee, what's in it for me", click here.

So what does the Mentor get out of participating in the Mentoring Programme?

Well the Mentor, generally is a senior HR professional who wants to give something back to their profession, assist new and up and coming HR professionals to be successful and develop their careers and are willing to share their vast knowledge and experience with a mentee. Participating in the Mentoring Programme as a Mentor will also allow them to develop new networks with the next generataion of senior HR professionals, furthering their own self awarenss and professional development.

To find out more information on, " I am a Mentor, what's in it for me," click here.

Differences between Coaching & Mentoring?

The differences between coaching and mentoring are quite clear.

Coaching:
Generally follows the format of individual guidance that is focused on job performance and aimed at one person alone. The coach specificially advises the person on how to tackle and perform a particular task and providing constructive feedback and delegating further similiar tasks, setting goals or higher level tasks for the individual to complete. The coach in most instances will be an immediate supervisior or manager who will have overall resonsibility for the departments overall performance. Coaching is about having a positive relationship where the coachee respects, trusts and identifies with the coach.

Mentoring:
Generally follows the format of generalised advice and guidance of an individual career development. Mentoring is about developing a relationship between a more senior and experience mentor and an inexperienced mentee, to guide and develop the mentee knowledge and career progression. The mentor generally will be someone who is not your immediate supervisior/manager or within your organisation can allow the luxury of talking to an independent impartial confidante who is not your manager, they will have the ability to listen to your issues, afford you the opportunity to vent unrestrictely and support and assist you in achieving your goals.

However, saying this some organisations who offer mentoring for their employees may allocate a mentor within the organisation who has similiar standing, status and power as your immediate supervisior.

HRINZ Mentoring Programme

The HRINZ Mentoring programme is a semi-formal mentoring programme provided by as a free service to all HRINZ members. Mentors participating in this programme do not receive payment for providing their services - it is all voluntary contribution. HRINZ would recommend that members who wish to participate in this programme have already secured a role within HR before applying for a Mentor.

The Institute continues to run this programme as a member benefit which maintains its committement to the development of professional members and buildling the capability of the HR Profession.

One of key objectives, for this programme which is promoted by the Institute is:
“to encourage and support the development of professional knowledge, competence and high standards of performance amongst it’s members”.

The HRINZ Mentoring Programme is one of the many tools that the have been developed and introduced for Professional Development within the HRINZ Career Development Framework and are all interconnected.

To find out more information on the HRINZ Mentoring Programme, click here.

HRINZ Career Framework

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