Last month we focused on helping
your mentees identify competencies on which to work throughout
your mentoring partnership. If you missed last month’s article,
click here to catch up.
Your first step is to help them identify one, two, or three concrete
goals on which to work. Next, the two of you will identify development
activities and some deadlines.
In our case example, the mentee’s overall goal was
“to think better on my feet.” Here’s what the
mentee listed:
- To know my subject…before presenting to the executive
team on July 19th.
- To identify at least 50 questions and comments I’m
likely to receive.
- To develop and practice (with my mentor) several credible
replies.
The mentee did a good job of taking the large goal and starting
somewhere, in this case developing some smart responses for a
stand-up presentation to a key audience. (Of course, to master
the goal of thinking on one’s feet, the mentee will want
to expand learning later, but this is a good start.)
Goal then Development Activities
This month, let’s take another look at that mentee and
see if we can help. Let’s assume this is your mentee.
What development activities could you suggest?
Pause for a moment and think of all the approaches you can imagine.
Here’s what The Mentoring Group came up with:
The mentee will . . .
1. Attack the subject matter, video streaming, in several ways:
do online search of articles, read other articles in technical
journals, interview in-house experts, observe the technology
in actual use, teach you (the mentor) the key points learned.
2. Observe someone who has a reputation for being quick on
his/her feet. Note the behaviors, body language, timing, silence,
and other factors that convey knowledge of the subject and awareness
of the audience’s questions and needs.
3. Identify the likely needs of this audience; interview all
or selected members to gauge the level of current knowledge
and typical questions.
4. Identify the 50 likely questions and comments from the above
research; ask one or more content experts and a colleague familiar
with the audience to edit and add to the list; revise the list
and run it by you for more input.
5. Draft short answers or comments to each item on the query
list; practice these on tape or in front of the mirror or both;
practice phrases such as “I don’t know that
answer; let me quickly get back to you on that.”
6. Prepare the bare bones of the presentation (especially the
Question and Answer section) and practice this with several
people, including you; doing more dry runs as needed.
7. (If appropriate) Ask one of the actual audience, in advance,
to critique her/him after the event (letting the critic know
the specific feedback wanted). If possible, invite you to attend
and to provide additional feedback.
8. Do the presentation; critique himself/herself; get feedback
from designated critic; debrief with you.
9. Identify strengths and areas needing improvement in this
presentation as well as in mentee’s overall presenting
and responding style.
10. Find another event for which to practice, and critique
that. Continue this process as many times as needed including
both formal presentations and informal situations that call
for relatively quick, thoughtful, smart responses.
We could go on, couldn’t we? You get the idea! Learning
a big skill such as thinking on one’s feet doesn’t
come quickly. Your mentee might finally learn to give good responses
in one type of situation or with one type of group
and then feel very anxious or like a beginner in a different one.
Yet with your support and lots of practice, even a complicated
skill like this one is learnable and eventually transferable.
Other Development Activities
Other learning activities for your mentees for this or other
goals can include: discussions/meetings with you, discussions
with others, courses and workshops, self-study tapes and CDs,
projects, observations of you, inviting mentees to your key meetings,
roleplays, and more. Let us know what you’ve used to help
your mentees develop.
For more ideas on being an effective mentor, check our Archive
and Products (especially The
Mentor’s Guide and 75 things to
Do with Your Mentees).
|
