Mentorship
A structured, sustained process of enabling an individual to gain more knowledge and skills to assist him/her in advancing professional and personal skills and/or leadership capabilities for more effective service delivery, job performance and career management.
Coaching
An approach where a supervisor supports an individual or a team by building their skills, competencies and attitudes through direction and instruction inorder to learn a paricular skill (current skills or acquiring new skills) or work towards a set goal. The purpose of coaching is to improve the individual’s performance on the job.
How do you Select a Mentor/Coach?
A TIMEC programme mentor/coach should be;
(i) A professional or expert/talented in a specific area;
(ii) For a teacher/ institutional administrator, must have a specific area of specialization/subject gurus;
(iii) Of good conduct and integrity;
(iv) Willing to offer service as a volunteer;
(v) Persons of professional repute and enjoys respect of colleagues; and
VI) Innovative.
The following parameters will also be considered during selection of the mentors/coaches:
a) Gender;
b) Persons Living with Disability,
c) Religion
Qualities of a Mentor?
- Desire to help/support others
- Has time to Mentor the Mentee
- Should be ready to tell the mentee the truth (Reality check)
- Support the Mentee’s individual career development plan
- Provides guidance and constructive feedback.
- Respected by colleagues and employees at all levels of the institution .
- Sets and meets ongoing personal and professional goals.
- Values the opinions and initiatives of others.
- Motivates others by setting a good example.
Roles of a Mentor
- Coaching
- Role modeling
- Counseling and support
- Friendship
- Provide exposure and visibility for the Mentee
Who are Mentors at School Level?
- Senior teachers
- Peer Teachers
- Team leaders
- Subject heads and subject experts
Benefits of Mentorship to a Mentor
- Has an opportunity to pass on successes
- Practice interpersonal & management skills
- Become recognized/appreciated
- Expand their horizons and self satisfaction
- Gains more than the Mentee does
Importance of Mentorship
- It is a relationship where an experienced person assists an employee to grow in all spheres of their life
- The mentor also facilitates career development and psycho-social development/support by providing a vehicle for accomplishing the development task
- Improves productivity.
- Prevents occurrence of professional misconduct
Responsibilities OF the Mentee in Mentorship
- Willingness to learn
- Ability to accept feedback
- Willingness to “stretch”
- Ability to identify goals
What is Coaching?
- An approach to management – where a supervisor supports employee by building their skills, competencies and attitudes.
- Get the person to manage their own learning
- Provide encouragement & advice
- Provide specific guidance when required
- Agree how progress should be monitored & reviewed
Roles of a Coach
- Provide guidance on how to carry out specific tasks – towards learning
- Help people become aware of how well they are doing and what they need to learn
- Use whatever situations arise as learning opportunities
Criteria for Identifying Mentors and Coaches:
- Persons of professional repute
- Subject specialists (gurus)
- Talented persons in curriculum activities
- Excellent (all round performers)
- People of high moral standing in the community, religious organizations
- Innovators
- Performing institutions etc.
