Mark The Milestones

This is my favourite mug. It sits on my desk as I drink the endless cups of tea that refresh me as I work. It has an Aboriginal design and very special because it was given to me as part of the celebration at the end of an Aboriginal mentoring program. When I use it I remember the people I worked with and what we achieved together.

Celebrations are important and marking the milestones in your mentoring program is an easy way to help people stay engaged and enthusiastic. Here's how you can do it.

Mentoring – Mark The Milestones

We were several days into a family road trip and, as every kid does sooner or later, my young daughter always asked: “How long till we get there?” Usually, the question was a sign of too long on the road and time for a break but this particular morning, we were just leaving the driveway of the motel! She was not complaining, she was curious, looking forward to the destination we had described and the fun we’d have there.

Adults want to know what to expect when they take the mentoring journey, too. So you’ve probably given them a road map in the form of a workshop, guidelines, or other resources.

Yet it is still easy for people to lose their way so clearly marked milestones will help them stay on track.

In my experience, successful mentoring relationships usually move through these stages:

Rapport - the pair have made contact and established communication;

Purpose - they have set some goals and have a sense of direction;

Progress - there is development and growth; and

Evolution - the mentoring comes to an end or the relationship changes.

Here’s how you can mark milestones and help participant stay engaged and enthusiastic about their mentoring.

Milestone One – Rapport

Within four weeks of their introduction, you want to check in with both the mentor and mentoree to ensure that they have indeed made contact and established enough rapport to begin the relationship. A phone call or face-to-face conversation is best.  

After three or four meetings, pairs should review for themselves how they feel about the mentoring and commit to continue or decide to dissolve. As program manager, you need to personally follow-up to see how they’re going. You want to come across as checking-in with them not checking-up on them. Offer encouragement, support and assistance. If they do need to discontinue you need to facilitate the process in a positive way.

Milestone Two – Purpose

Some people are really clear about their goals from the outset. Others may be a bit vague – knowing it’s going to be good for their development or career but not specific about what they want or need. That’s fine, but mentoring partnerships should have a sense of purpose or direction otherwise motivation and satisfaction can wane. People become uncertain that they are really achieving anything.

For this milestone you could do a quick and easy one-question poll of participants (use Survey Monkey or something similar). Keep it very simple otherwise people won’t respond.

Here’s an example:

Hi, we’d like to get a sense of how everyone is going with their mentoring with this quick poll. Your response is anonymous and there is no right or wrong answer, in fact you can choose more that one of the phrases below to complete the statement:

My mentoring partner and I have …

• A sense of purpose or direction for our mentoring;
• Specific and measurable goals;
• An agenda that is flexible;
• Become unsure about where we’re heading.
• Other response/comment (with a free form answer box) 

We’ll let you know what percentage of participants selected each response.

If you need any assistance, please call.

Thanks,

Mentoring Program Manager

Milestone Three – Progress

About half way through the program it’s a great boost if you can bring the group together – face-to-face or via webinar or teleconference, to discuss progress. Reconnecting prevents pairs feeling isolated or getting lost. If they have challenges they find they are not alone; if they have overcome barriers they can share their strategies; and if they have achieved success they can inspire others. I always find that a midpoint review workshop re-energizes everyone.

A midpoint workshop also allows you to discuss issues and fix any problems. It ensures that participants get the most out of the remaining time.

Milestone Four- Evolution

Many people find that their mentoring relationship evolves. For some, mentoring morphs into friendship - though it’s fine if it doesn’t - some highly successful mentoring is kept strictly professional. Sometimes, the respect each has for the other leads to reciprocal mentoring. Others are happy to remain in contact as professional colleagues. Occasionally, mentoring doesn’t end well. It fizzles out, or the relationship is dissolved. Quite often people who were mentored are able to mentor others and mentors go in search of mentors for themselves!

It is important to mark the end of a mentoring program. It’s a chance to celebrate success, acknowledge contribution and provide a sense of closure to those who want it. It’s an opportunity to gather feedback about your program, too.

To mark the end of a mentoring program some organizations host a lunch or dinner and invite senior people to the event. Some provide certificates or gifts to mark the occasion. Often photos are taken and published in the staff newsletter or intranet site. Mentors and mentorees are encouraged to speak about their experience.

The other question kids in cars ask is: “Are we there yet?” Again, adults need to know when they will reach the mentoring destination. Provide and mark milestones and you, and they, will be able to see that mentoring works!

Article End

Take A Minute To Mentor is a special little book that takes pride of place on many desks.

With its inspiring images and quotes and thought starters for mentoring conversations, it’s often given as a “Thank You” gift to mentors or as a way to help build a mentoring culture.

Buy one for yourself now or email me for bulk orders. 

Also available as postcards.