Mentoring Guidelines

The following guidelines are for both mentors and mentees. Whilst they do not constitute a formal agreement, they should be understood by both parties as the basis for a successful mentoring agreement. It may be helpful for them to be discussed at the first meeting, so that the ground rules are clearly established From the outset, the roles of mentor and mentee should be agreed.
  • The mentor's role is to respond to the mentee's developmental needs. This means that the mentor must not impose his/her own agenda
  • Both parties have equal responsibility for the mentoring partnership
  • Any discussions between the mentor and mentee should be treated as confidential
  • The mentor must not act on behalf of the mentee
  • The mentor and mentee should be open and truthful with each other
  • The mentor and mentee should respect each other's time and other responsibilities
  • Where possible the frequency and length of meetings should be mutually agreed
  • Both mentor and mentee must be happy with the location of meetings
  • The means of contact between meetings should be agreed
  • The mentor should provide constructive feedback to the mentee and vice versa
  • The mentee should attempt to tackle any areas for development
  • Mentors can decide whether it is appropriate to refer a mentee elsewhere for advice
  • The role of the mentor is to challenge and support the mentee
  • The relationship should last for a mutually agreeable time period, after which it can be renegotiated.
  • Both mentor & mentee share responsibility for the smooth winding down of the relationship once it has achieved its purpose
  • Either party may terminate the relationship, after discussing the matter with one another first on the basis of mutual respect and understanding
  • The mentoring relationship is entirely voluntary for both parties. The Institution does not reimburse any expenditure
  • When face-to-face mentoring is not possible, e-mentoring may be a way forward. However both parties need to understand that: i) it may take longer to build a good mentoring relationship; ii) the benefits of a face to face meeting such as facial expressions, body language, etc are lost; iii) e-mentoring best works for individuals who are open minded and adaptable.