- Mentoring is the passing on of knowledge from an experienced individual to a less experienced individual. It doesn’t mean that you have to be older chronologically! It means that you have knowledge and experience to share with someone who can benefit from your learning.
Use this link to see a video on “What is Mentoring?”
What is the best way to identify who to Mentor? How can I find a Mentee?
The best way to know who to mentor is to talk with people and see if there is a connection. The most successful mentoring relationships are between people who “click” meaning they get along and they have something in common.
Have a conversation with a potential mentee and ask them what their needs are, how can you support them, and how can I help you move forward? Talk with them about their commitment level to mentoring; how serious are they? Both parties must make a commitment and work to have a successful experience.
What is Mentor Match?
Mentor Match is the latest addition to an expanding line-up of our services to support members’ professional development needs. It is an online tool – including a searchable database – that facilitates the establishment of mentoring relationships.
It is user-driven, allowing registered Mentors and Mentees to search using specified criteria to find individuals that are potential matches for a mentoring relationship. It provides tools for tracking and managing your mentoring relationships too!
Watch this video for additional information.
Is there a fee associated with using Mentor Match? No!
Mentor Match is a Members-Only benefit provided by NAFA. There is no extra charge to use this resource (but you must be a NAFA member to enroll).
How are Mentors and Mentees matched?
Use this link to see a video on how to use the Mentor Match system: Mentor Match Video
Members must first enroll as a Mentor, Mentee or both. (Yes, you can be both a Mentor and a Mentee.) During the enrollment process, members will select preferences for various demographics (including Mentoring Venue and Mentoring Topics) to establish their personal criteria.
Looking for a Mentor?
A registered Mentee will visit the “Find a Mentor” page and fill in their search criteria to search for possible Mentors. The Mentee will click the names of the potential Mentors to view their profiles. Once the Mentee has decided on a Mentor, they will click on the Mentor badge (seen below the registered Mentor's profile picture) to request that person as their Mentor. An e-mail will be sent to the Mentor alerting them that they have been requested to be a Mentor. The Mentor will be able to accept or decline the request.
Looking for a Mentee?
A registered Mentor will visit the “Find a Mentee” page and fill in their search criteria to search for possible Mentees. The Mentor will click the names of the potential Mentees to view their profiles. Once the Mentor has decided on a Mentee, they will click on the Mentee badge (seen below the registered Mentee's profile picture) to request that person as their Mentee. An e-mail will be sent to the Mentee alerting them that they have been requested to be a Mentee. The Mentee will be able to accept or decline the request.
What resources are available outside of current work relationships to help find a mentor or mentee?
The NAFA Mentor Match program is a great tool to use to identify potential mentors and mentees and manage the relationship.
Finding a mentor outside of your place of employment makes the conversations easier. It’s great to be mentored by your Boss or supervisor, but a mentee may not feel comfortable telling their Boss everything on their mind.
Look at the other communities you are involved in outside of work and NAFA. For example, if you are part of the local Chamber of Commerce, the PTA, a church, or another volunteer group like a local charity, you are connected to many potential mentors.
The most important thing is to get to know people and find out what they know that could help you. Maybe you want to be a better manager or increase your leadership skills. Once you find someone who can help you, make the ask. Request their help as your mentor in an area of expertise you identified.
Finding a mentor outside of what you do every day helps you develop overall as a person and as a professional.
Should mentoring sessions be scheduled or just on a casual “as needed” basis?
NAFA recommends formally scheduled sessions for at least one hour per month. It demonstrates a commitment from both parties and supports planning a discussion on a specific topic. This helps both the mentor and the mentee to prepare for the meeting and get the most out of it.
Should a mentor and mentee set measurable milestones?
NAFA recommends setting goals or milestones for the mentor and mentee to work on together. For example, a mentee may want to get a new position or a promotion; the mentor can support their development of a plan, review their strategy, and make suggestions on how to achieve this goal.
This is where the sample mentoring agreement comes in handy as there is an area for goal setting.
How can mentors and mentees maintain confidentiality?
Respecting confidentiality is an important part of any relationship, and even more so in the mentoring relationship. One of the first topics of discussion between mentor and mentee is confidentiality. Explain what it means to each of you and why it’s necessary for you to build trust in your relationship.
This is part of the Sample Mentoring Agreement provided by NAFA but if you feel more comfortable with a separate Non-Disclosure or Confidentiality agreement then you should sign one.
How do you measure the ROI (return on investment) of a mentoring relationship?
There’s a difference between ROI, a “hard” piece of data, and the perception of value which is subjective. While in ROI calculations you can determine how much return you earn, an intangible experience like mentoring is determined by that individual, whether Mentor or Mentee.
For example, if you're a mentee and you're spending one hour a month talking to a mentor who's not actually helping you with the area you want to develop, then that's a low-value experience and not a good use of your time. And that means you probably need to get a new Mentor.
How do I end a mentoring relationship?
As they say, “all good things must come to end.” So do things that aren’t necessarily working well.
If your mentoring relationship is not going smoothly, and you think it’s time to move on, the first step is to have that conversation. Open with some questions like “Do you feel you are getting what you need from this relationship?” Maybe someone – the mentor or the mentee – doesn’t seem as committed any longer. If that’s the case, ask “Do you feel you have the time and energy for this right now?”
It’s important to be upfront about it; don’t just stop talking. If it’s a natural ending point, then say so. It doesn’t mean you can’t stay connected; it just means that now is not the time for the mentoring to happen in a way that’s mutually beneficial.
Evaluation of the relationship should be ongoing, and it can help you identify why you don't believe you're the best Mentor for that person anymore or you need to recognize the fact that maybe that person's not contributing or taking it as seriously.
Don’t make up a reason like “work is crazy busy” or “I just can’t focus on this right now” because that doesn’t serve anyone in the relationship. Instead, have a conversation about why it is time to end the relationship and offer to help each other find new connections that can move you forward.
Does Mentoring count towards CAFM re-certification points?
Yes, as a mentor you will receive 1 certification point per year of service.
FOR MENTORS
How do I become a Mentor?
As a member, you can jump right in but you should update your member profile first. Then, click here to enroll as a Mentor and follow the prompts to select topics and set your status. s
Who are the Mentees?
Mentees are other NAFA members who need your help to grow their careers or make important decisions.
Can I have more than one Mentee?
While there is no limit to the number of mentoring relationships you can establish, we recommend 1 to 3 at a time. You want to be able to manage all the relationships and give them the attention they deserve. You can limit the number of Mentee requests you are willing to accept on the Mentoring enrollment page.
Can I mentor more than one person at a time?
Absolutely! Just make sure you don’t overcommit so that you can give each mentee the time they need and deserve. It’s best to focus on 1 to 3 mentees at a time. Why 3?
NAFA recommends meeting with your mentee at least one hour per month; if you have three mentees that is 3 hours per month. That doesn’t include any communications outside the regularly scheduled mentoring session.
How do I find Mentees?
Once you have enrolled as a Mentor, go the "Find a Mentee" page and select the criteria you want to use for your Mentee search. Click on a Mentee name to view their profiles. Once you have found a good match, click on the Mentee badge (seen below the Mentee's profile image) to send the Mentee an email request.
How will I know if a Mentee would like me to be their Mentor?
You will receive an e-mail from the Mentee requesting you to be their Mentor. You will be prompted to accept or reject the request. We suggest having an initial conversation to see if your match is a good fit before accepting or rejecting a request.
Is it okay to reject a request?
Yes, but there should be a good reason to do so. We encourage you to at least have an initial conversation to explore whether the relationship would be mutually fulfilling. If you want to decline a request, go to the "My Mentoring Relationships" page and check the “decline” button next to the specific request.
What if I’m going to be on vacation or unavailable for a period of time?
Go to the "Mentor Enrollment" page, click the “Mentor Status” link then click on the check-box next to “Temporarily Not Participating.” Doing this will indicate that you are not accepting any Mentee requests at the time, and your mentoring profile will not be included in a Mentee’s search for a Mentor.
Existing mentees? Just make sure you let them know your schedule.
How do I end a mentoring relationship?
If the mentoring relationship is complete, go to the "My Mentoring Relationships" page and mark the relationship as “completed.”
If the mentoring relationship isn't working out, please kindly discuss your decision to end the relationship with your Mentee. Go to the "My Mentoring Relationships" page and mark the relationship as “completed.”
What are the expectations for participating Mentors?
We expect that you will fulfill your commitment to developing at least one mentoring relationship. We expect you to respond to initial requests from Mentees in a timely manner, and that you communicate with your Mentees as agreed upon by both you and your Mentees.
How much time will I need to invest as a Mentor?
We recommend that you and your Mentees agree on a schedule that works best for both of you, but generally connecting once per month for one hour works well.
The most important thing is to discuss your mutual expectations about time and communication at the start of your relationship. Keep in mind that mentoring doesn’t necessarily require large amounts of your time. Even brief phone calls or e-mail exchanges with you can make a big difference to your Mentees.
What benefits do I receive from the organization if I participate as a Mentor in the program?
All Mentors are volunteers. As an active program participant, you will receive a ribbon identifying you as a Mentor and your activity will be added to your Community profile.
What benefits do I receive as an individual if I participate as a Mentor in the program?
Mentors grow from this experience too. You will learn as much from your Mentee as they learn from you. And you will know that you helped make the future of the profession stronger through your sharing of time, knowledge, expertise.
What if I want to be a mentor AND find a mentor for myself?
Everyone needs help from time to time – even mentors. Finding your own Mentor is a great way to keep yourself sharp AND it makes you an even better Mentor. We all need to share and learn from life lessons whether our own or someone else’s. While some people might feel uncomfortable being mentored while mentoring someone else, it depends on your own personal comfort level. But when you consider that mentoring is a cycle of connecting and sharing knowledge, it makes sense to have a mentor when you are a Mentor.
FOR MENTEES
How do I become a Mentee?
As a member, you can jump right in but you should update your member profile first. Then, click here to enroll as a Mentor and follow the prompts to select topics and set your status.
Who are the Mentors?
Mentors are other members who have volunteered their time, knowledge, and expertise to support other members' career development.
Can I have more than one Mentor?
While there is no limit to the number of mentoring relationships you can establish, we recommend that you be judicious in selecting only Mentors who are most suited to your mentoring needs.
Please keep in mind that Mentors have limited time to offer and may have other Mentoring relationships.
How do I find a Mentor?
Once you have enrolled as a Mentee, go to the "Find a Mentor" page and select the criteria you want to use for your Mentor search. Click on the Mentors' names to view their profiles. Once you have found a good match, click on the Mentor badge (seen below the Mentor's profile image) to send the Mentor an email request.
What should I do if I don’t hear from the Mentor I requested?
If you don’t hear from the Mentor within one or two weeks, feel free to contact them using the contact information found on their profile page.
What if the Mentor isn’t the right “fit” for my needs?
Sometimes, regardless of the information provided, Mentors and Mentees don’t always "fit." If this happens, we suggest that you discuss your decision honestly and kindly with your Mentor; thank them for their time then start a new Mentor search.
Can I change my Mentor? Should I change my Mentor?
There's nothing wrong with changing your Mentor every three to six months if that's what you need to do. Mentees are encouraged to change your mentor if someone can no longer help you. The Mentor should also assess how much value they are bringing to the relationship, especially after the first three months. A Mentor can help their Mentee find their next mentor that will help them get to the next level and achieve their goals.
A strong example for NAFA members is this: your mentee moves from one type of Vehicle Fleet to another type of Fleet. Maybe they go from managing a rental car Fleet to managing a long-distance Trucking Fleet and you can't help them with that because you don't have that experience so after discussing it, you work together to find the next mentor.
Where can I meet with my Mentor?
It is up to you and your Mentor to decide how, when, and where you want to pursue your mentoring relationship. It is likely that most of your communication will occur by phone or virtually, but you can also communicate by email or text. And let’s not forget the power of video calls!
We recommend that you and your Mentor agree on a schedule that works best for both of you. The most important thing is to discuss your mutual expectations about time and communication at the start of your relationship.
How long does the mentoring relationship last?
Generally, mentoring relationships are set for 12 months. But we recommend that you check in with each other every 3 months to see if this relationship is still the best for you and your career needs. Sometimes you need to find a different Mentor as you evolve, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stay connected to a past Mentor!
Interesting Mentoring Statistics
Tips for Mentors and Mentees to Get the Most out of their Experience
By Cecilia Sepp, CAE, Principal, Rogue Tulips
[originally published in Association Forum Magazine, January 2019]
COMMIT
To have a successful mentoring partnership, both parties need to make a serious commitment. It’s not something you say “sure, sounds good” and then don’t make the time to do. In most programs, there is a mentoring agreement that outlines roles, responsibilities, and most importantly the goals of the mentoring partnership. Think these through to establish the goals and then use the goals as a way to focus the work.
PREPARE
Be prepared for your conversations. Mentees should always have a list of questions or topics they need to discuss and it’s best to send them to your Mentor in advance. Mentors should be ready to LISTEN first and talk second. Also, read the prep message if the Mentee sends one!
SHARE
Mentors are a great resource and should not be shy about offering opinions and examples from their personal experience. Mentors should also recommend resources to their Mentees like books, podcasts, or articles.
DEVELOP
While it’s great to have a lifetime or career-long relationship, know when to say when. It’s possible that a Mentor may be great for a year, but then it’s time to change to a new Mentor or additional Mentor to learn or grow in a new direction. It doesn’t mean you can’t stay in touch; it just means for personal development a Mentee may need to get guidance from someone else.
SERVE
Mentees should always consider becoming a Mentor later in their career to continue the cycle of helping and learning. Think of the concept “each one teaches one.”
Did you know you are likely mentoring and didn’t even know it? Here’s a link to an article on this topic: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/micro-mentoring-identify-your-mentor-moments-cecilia-sepp-cae/