Training for Mentor
Training for mentor before they meet their mentee
Pre-match mentor training should include an in-person session of at least two hours. The following should be included in pre-match mentor training
1. Cover program requirements, such as length, frequency of meetings, what to do if mentees miss meetings, and what to do with a mismatch;
2. Mentor’s goals and expectations for the mentee;
3. Mentor’s obligations and appropriate roles;
4. How to build the mentoring relationship;
5. Ethical and safety issues that may come up when creating a mentoring relationship;
6. How to conclude a mentoring relationship;
7. Where mentors can assess support if they need it; and,
8. Opportunities and challenges that a mentor can face when mentoring.
Training for the
Mentor Match
Once the mentee and mentor have been matched, mentors should have one or two follow-up training sessions. When it comes to post-match training, the following should be covered
1. Appropriate physical contact;
2. Who the mentoring program administrators are;
3. How to get feedback on mentoring;
4. Discussions topics and activities;
5. Policies on money spent on mentee and mentor activities;
6. Remote vs in-person mentoring;
7. How to end a mentoring relationship.
Further ways to train mentors
Besides the typical training, we will host some meetings for mentors to get in contact with their peers, mentors can discuss any questions they might have during the mentorship process—this is called peer learning. One study showed peer mentoring increased knowledge sharing. This is a great way to increase learning, motivation and overall mentoring outcomes.
Peer-to-peer learning is a great way to get mentors to help each other learn and become better guides for their mentees.
For instance, mentors can get together and discuss with one another what works and does not in a mentorship. This can lead to better communication skills, a support system between mentors, and more motivation to get the mentee to succeed. Here’s a resource on peer mentoring activities that can encourage discussion and new learning.