Mentoring online can be rewarding, but also challenging. Sometimes, you may need to have difficult conversations with your mentees, such as giving feedback, addressing performance issues, or resolving conflicts. How can you handle these situations effectively and maintain a positive relationship with your mentees? Here are some tips to help you.
Before you initiate a difficult conversation, make sure you are clear about your purpose, your expectations, and your emotions. Think about what you want to say, how you want to say it, and what outcome you hope to achieve. Also, consider how your mentee may feel, react, or respond, and prepare yourself to empathize and listen. Avoid having the conversation when you are angry, stressed, or rushed. Choose a time and a platform that works for both of you, and give your mentee a heads-up about the topic.
To set up any relationship, Follow the H.I.T. Principles Honestly, Integrity & Transparency. Honesty with yourself as to why you do, day and think like you do. Transparency is how you step into the world and is your ongoing reputation, the by-product is integrity. When operating this way, one is always on the right side. When the certainty of the message and ownership of identity is present, then the message will be clear. A true mentor builds an intimate relationship, which is only possible when integrity is the foundation. Every relationship hinges on integrity, you can't fake it, otherwise, you come across as a bully, arrogant, egotistical, or otherwise leverage knowledge for authority.
One thing central to 'mentoring' is gaining insight into the holistic context / issues of concern to the mentee, emphathising with the mentee so that the mentee develops confidence in your understanding of his/ her concerns on which he/she is looking for a direction to handle. Pl understand that the mentor doesn't solve mentee's problem but helps the mentee to gain a larger perspective into the issue and gain confidence to handle the problem herself. Most times mentees are looking for some one without an agenda to confide to and understand their problem in a matured confident and dispassionate manner. They are looking for someone they consider worthy of connecting to than a ready made problem solver. mentor's job is to build confidence
It's paramount to approach a challenging conversation with clarity and empathy, especially with a mentee. Be mindful of your objectives and emotions, avoiding anger or stress. Take the time to craft your message, keeping your mentee's responses in mind. Choosing the right time and setting, as well as describing the topic beforehand, foster mutual understanding and respect by creating an environment conducive to open dialogue.
When you start the conversation, use a respectful and supportive tone. Acknowledge your mentee's strengths, achievements, and efforts, and express your appreciation for their work. Explain why you are having the conversation, and what you hope to accomplish. Focus on the facts and the behaviors, not the personality or the intentions. Avoid blaming, criticizing, or judging your mentee. Instead, use constructive feedback that is specific, actionable, and relevant. Provide examples and evidence to support your points, and invite your mentee to share their perspective and input.
It's important here to temper the "praise sandwich" though. It can often come across as insincere and a sort of 'blowing smoke' type situation. Be clear, direct and honest providing an example of what happened and what the impact and effect of this was. Invite your mentee to share their input. And have them be a part of coming up with a solution. We all do better when we are a part of creating our plan for improvement. If the mentee doesn't take an active role in improving you all run the risk of having the same conversation over and over again.
After you have shared your feedback, collaborate with your mentee to find solutions and agree on next steps. Ask your mentee what they think they can do to improve, and offer your suggestions and resources. Help your mentee set realistic and measurable goals, and define how you will monitor and evaluate their progress. Emphasize your support and commitment to their success, and ask them how you can help them along the way. Encourage your mentee to ask questions, raise concerns, or seek feedback at any time.
As a mentor you should start from the questions. Your mentee need to at least try to find their own answer. You role is help, to answer instead of mentee. Keep in mind, that it's not your life. Support if needed. Suggest something, but not give the exact answer. From my experience - you never know everything. Sometimes you really need just to be and support
The conversation does not end when you hang up or log off. You need to follow up and follow through with your mentee to ensure that they are implementing the agreed actions and achieving the desired results. Check in with your mentee regularly, and provide positive reinforcement and constructive feedback as needed. Celebrate their achievements, and acknowledge their challenges. If there are any issues or obstacles, address them promptly and collaboratively. Keep the communication open and honest, and maintain the trust and rapport with your mentee.
Uma das principais características do processo de mentoria é o acompanhamento do mentorado. Por isso, mesmo após a sess?o ser realizada, esse acompanhamento deve continuar. E para ser eficiente, estabele?a um canal de comunica??o que seja viável para ambos. Essa comunica??o deve ser frequente durante todo o processo para que a pessoa se sinta apoiada e mais estimulada a continuar. Faz muita diferen?a.
Having difficult conversations is not easy, but it is an essential skill for online mentoring. You can learn and improve from each experience, and use it to enhance your mentoring relationship and effectiveness. After each conversation, reflect on what went well, what did not go well, and what you can do better next time. Seek feedback from your mentee, and from other mentors or peers. Identify your strengths and areas for improvement, and seek opportunities to develop your skills and knowledge. Remember that difficult conversations are opportunities for growth, both for you and your mentee.
é durante a jornada que melhoramos. Por isso, é fundamental analisar o processo, medir os resultados e ouvir feedbacks dos mentorados. é assim que, tanto menor quanto mentorado, evoluem no processo de mentoria. Além disso, é uma maneira muito eficiente do mentor refinar o seu processo e a sua entrega nas próximas sess?es.