Techniques
Individual Development Plan Outline
Mentoring Techniques (to support the predetermined activities):
Outline goals in detail. Even a mentoring relationship that focuses more on personal growth should teem with specific goals, such as finishing a reading assignment and writing a reaction paper by a certain date (Wroblewski, 2018).
Model good behavior. “Good” is a word that denotes value, and it's up to the mentor to define what it means (Being honest? Empathetic? Kind?) Good mentors do more than espouse good behavior; they embrace it. Approach issues with a positive attitude (Wroblewski, 2018).
Expect periodic conflict. Like any personal relationship, mentoring invariably rustles up the occasional disagreement. Even arguments provide an opportunity for learning, as long as they're not allowed to fester (Wroblewski, 2018).
Set confidence as an omnipresent goal. The mentoree doesn't need to know this early on in the relationship; it's sometimes more fun to let them in on the secret later on, after they have conquered a few challenges they once deemed “impossible” (Wroblewski, 2018).
Coaching Techniques (to support the predetermined activities):
Devise clear goals that include benchmarks and deadlines. The mentee should always know what is expected of her and how she should achieve it (Wroblewski, 2018).
Be prepared to help with time management. Many mentees want to learn new tasks but are often befuddled about how to structure their time to master them (Wroblewski, 2018).
Frame feedback in a forthright and positive manner. Expect the mentee to encounter setbacks but be ready to supply new strategies to help her persevere (Wroblewski, 2018).
Follow up on feedback. It's called accountability, and the best coaches devise a system (formal or informal in nature) that constantly tracks the contributions of both parties (Wroblewski, 2018).
Celebrate accomplishments. On balance, they may be small. But every accomplishment represents a step forward. And each one is worth celebrating to build an mentee’s self-confidence (Wroblewski, 2018).
Listen more; speak less. Active listening is a learned skill, and good coaches can elevate it to an art form with practice. While feedback is important, it really should be secondary to securing someone's confidence by assuring them that they are being heard (Wroblewski, 2018).
Wroblewski, M.T. (2018). Strategies and Techniques for Mentoring and Coaching. Retrieved from https://smallbusiness.chron.com/strategies-techniques-mentoring-coaching-23317.html
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