This report is prepared on behalf of the members of the Mentoring and Consultation subcommittee, all of whom are actively providing or participating in mentoring activities.
The term “Mentor” been commonly used to include guide, champion, teacher, supervisor. Today because we inherited many traditions of mentoring practices, we continue to use the term broadly while also attempting to give it somewhat more definition in terms of mediation and related professional practices.
Sub-committee members have provided program descriptions, mentoring documents and other extensive materials related to mentoring. Throughout this report, we will refer to these documents, noting them with (*).
A mentor/coach is a way of being.
Juliana Birkhoff, “Mentoring and Coaching,” Mediate.com
SECTION I – TYPES OF QUESTIONS WITH WHICH WE WERE DEALING IN THIS PROJECT
This section includes five identified groups of questions that emerged through our discussions. Further focused discussions will undoubtedly expand and refine these questions which help us understand the complexity and nuances of the mentoring process. Our efforts have been focused on how we as a field can have a more common understanding of what we mean by mentoring and how we can build a multi-faceted mentoring network that can meet the multiplicity of needs of a complex field of endeavor.
SECTION II – WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED SO FAR ABOUT BEST PRACTICES
Our work focused primarily on structured, articulated, or otherwise intentional forms of mentoring. We used the knowledge and experience of private organizations, governmental entities, and private practitioners that have put a great deal of thought and effort into building integrated and thoughtful mentoring programs. From the discussions with programs and practitioners as well as reviewing materials (program descriptions, articles, etc.) we have
extrapolated common elements and key learnings. Our anticipation is that this document can serve as our “working draft” of Best Practices for Mentoring.
READ THE COMPLETE MENTORING AND CONSULTATION BEST PRACTICES REPORT
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