The Organisation Development Company

Mentoring Services

We have a range of services to assist companies implement mentoring, either intra company or with external mentors.
	We design and implement mentoring programmes to strengthen informal networks of relationships to enhance the sharing of expertise and information within companies.
	We assist managers and professionals become effective mentors. We assist those wanting mentoring to choose the best mentor for them.
	We have power point presentations on mentoring: these are ideal for introducing the concept of mentoring, and to facilitate discussion on how mentoring might best work within your organisation.
	We provide mentoring and executive coaching for executives, managers an professionals wanting to develop new skills, attitudes and approaches in their work and life. Our roles are sounding board, coach, and challenger in developing additional perspectives.
	We design and deliver training programmes for mentors and mentees.

Mentoring and Coaching

Coaching	Mentoring
Generally the coach is the line manager or other team members	The mentor is most effective when chosen by the mentee, and is someone other than the line manager, often someone from outside the organisation
Focused on skills and is performance related	Focused on capability by developing alternative perspectives and new approaches
Goals are set for or with the learner	Goals are set by the learner

The Roles of Mentors

a sounding board: someone who listens to your ideas in resolving dilemmas you are facing
a coach: to assist you to develop more skills and abilities in working to influence others
a networker: to introduce you to others who may assist you in specific areas
a challenger: someone who gives you feedback on how you are approaching your work / life and challenges your thinking and approaches
an educator: someone who offers insights into life, managing and leadership processes
a confidant: someone you can discuss specific situations and problems with on a confidential basis
a wise guide: someone who can assist you through the maze of confusing possibilities, someone to overview your development, and encourage when things don't work out well
Magician: someone who enables new and different perspectives on recurring dilemmas

Structuring a Mentoring Session

Develop your thinking in response to these questions.

How long will your sessions be?
How often will you have them?
Over what time frame, 6 months, a year, two years?
Where will you meet?
What will the structure of each session be?
Does your mentor want you to bring something specific to each meeting, and will you create a plan together for a series of sessions, or will it be informal with your mentor responding to whatever you bring? Or a mix of these things?
What will work best for both of you?