A short presentation: Mentoring

Mentoring has been used within the context of business since the nineties. It was the consequence of a series of developments that took place in those days:

The changes that were happening just speeded up. And to be successful as a company meant, to understand the consequences that followed that development. One way that managers could get some more clarity about all that was associated with that change was by getting the support of a mentoring person from outside.

The individual got more recognition in business; besides doing some courses, managers wanted to have somebody to talk with, somebody they trusted and respected and with whom they could talk about what was on their mind. The mentor did not have to be a brilliant manager, it was more important that he/she understood the psychological and technological problems the other was dealing with.

"There was an raised consciousness for the fact, that you were quite lonely at the top". So a mentor could bring in some other point of view, problems could be discussed neutrally and without tension.

Mentoring characterizes a relationship between two people. One is giving advice and instructions, that help the other to develop in a certain direction.

As a manager you could have more than one person mentoring you and you could be a mentor yourself. There should be meetings on a regular basis and the content will be set by the two people who meet. The necessary condition is a mutual interest, the ability to comunicate successfully and to have sufficient time.

Bookrecommendation:
Lewis, Gareth; The Mentoring Manager. Strategies for Fostering Talent and Spreading Knowledge (Smarter Solutions) 1999the