What is Mentoring?

What is Mentoring looks at the definition of mentoring, the different approaches to mentoring, the difference between mentoring and discipleship and what mentors do.

What is Mentoring?

1. Definition of Mentoring

Mentoring is a term that is readily used within organizations and churches. Therefore, it is important to understand what mentoring is. Here are some definitions.

"Mentoring is a relationship which gives people the opportunity to share their professional and personal skills and experiences, and to grow and develop in the process."

"Mentoring is a relational experience through which the mentor empowers the mentoree by sharing God-given resources."

"Mentoring is a process of developing a person to his or her maximum potential in Jesus Christ in every vocation."

If you look at these definitions, you will see three common threads. A) Mentoring involves a relationship. B) Mentoring involves resources. C) Mentoring involves development or empowering.

You cannot mentor someone from a distance. Mentoring requires a personal relationship whereby you come together to invest in the life of another person. "Typically, it is a one-to-one relationship between a more experienced and a less experienced person. It is based on encouragement, constructive comments, openness, mutual trust, respect and a willingness to learn and share."

Mentoring involves resources. These resources may include skills, experience, character, knowledge, wisdom, contacts, networks or maturity. A mentor must have something to impart to the mentoree.

To mentor someone is to develop or empower someone through the mentoring relationship.

2. Different Approaches To Mentoring

Role mentoring involves imparting resources to empower the mentoree to do a specific role. Soul mentoring involves developing character within the mentoree. Whole mentoring provides a role model for the mentoree.

3. Difference Between Mentoring and Discipleship

Discipling and mentoring are similar terms. However, discipling describes the relationship between a new Christian and a mature Christian in which the mature Christian spends time with the new Christian in order to establish the new Christian in the faith (spiritual disciplines). On the other hand, mentoring is a boarder term which can describe many difference relationships between two people. Mentoring may not involve spiritual content.

4. What Do Mentors Do?

Because mentoring is a board term, a mentor can do many things. For example:

Mentors can help people with personal problems
Mentors may provide a model for those who want to grow
Mentors may provide resources to develop the mentoree skills
Mentors may simply encourage the mentoree
Mentors may help the mentoree to understand the structure of the organization
Mentors may offer wise counsel
Etc. etc. etc

Anyone can mentor someone as long as they have something to offer the mentoree and the mentoree is willing to be a participant.

5. Benefits For The Mentoree

Increased skills and knowledge
Improved understanding of their roles
A supportive environment in which to succeed
A powerful learning tool to acquire professional experience
Increased networking opportunities
Development of skills and self-confidence
Empowerment

These are some of the benefits of mentoring.

6. Mentoring Program

At the outset, it is important to draw up a plan for your mentoring program. Your mentoring program should include:

the aims
the desired outcomes
performance indicators
time frame
assessment of the mentoring program

Once you have finished the mentoring program, it is important to evaluate how the program performed. This gives you the opportunity to rectify any problems with the program.

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