This course is intended for organizations with formal mentoring programs, who want both Mentors and Mentees to understand what that program is about, what they will get from it, and the contributions that both parties are committed to make in order to achieve the results of an effective program.

Complete Course Description

PURPOSE OF THE WORKSHOPS: There are two workshops, one for Mentors, the other for Mentees. Both have a similar purpose: to introduce to both players in this relationship the purpose of a mentoring arrangement, the tasks and commitments the two parties make, and the skills they need to make this growth partnership succeed.

THE WORKSHOP CONTENT: All of our workshops on this topic are custom-designed to fit the character and parameters of the Mentoring program client firms have selected for themselves. Within that framework, the instruction we provide mentors and mentees varies by level and background, but the subjects covered for the two groups are nearly identical. These are the topics the workshop teaches:

  • The various formats contemporary mentoring programs can take, with special emphasis on Mentoring Pairs and Mentoring Groups.


  • The purpose of the program.


  • The design of the program and the house rules that govern it.


  • The roles of Mentors and Mentees, and the commitments both make.


  • The criteria of Mentor and Mentee selection.


  • What mentors and mentees can expect to gain from this relationship.


  • The nature of the work done in a mentoring connection.


  • Suggestions for meeting content, and techniques for getting early meetings off the ground.


  • Issues of professional ethics and confidentiality.


  • Benchmark practices of successful mentor pairs and groups.


  • Techniques of one-on-one contact counseling (for Mentors).


  • Techniques of proactive participation (for Mentees).


  • Potential problems and hurdles in the relationship and how to address them.


  • How to deal with a poor match.


  • How to bring the mentoring relationship to a successful conclusion.

THE WORKSHOP FORMAT: We teach concepts and techniques in very short lecturettes. Participants then get opportunities to use or apply these techniques in a variety of problems, exercises, and simulations. We facilitate discussion around participant expectations on this issue, and encourage the sharing of experiences, interests and concerns. The program concludes with a series of mini-cases prepared as much as possible on actual experiences the client firm has had with this process. The workshop is highly participatory and fast-paced.

WHO AND HOW MANY SHOULD ATTEND: Anyone who is currently a mentor or mentee, or who is thinking of volunteering for such a role is a good candidate for this course. So are managers whose subordinates are into mentoring relationships, as are HR and other staff people who need an understanding of this program so they can support it more effectively.

Eighteen to twenty-four participants is an ideal class size.

THE LENGTH OF THE WORKSHOP: This workshop, for either mentors or mentees, is approximately 3 hours long.

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