Key Mentorship Characteristics (KMC) #6) - "RESPECT" (Part 2)
To start - here is a special segment that we've selected from our friends,
respected professionals and experts who are familiar with this subject ...
Prof. David Clutterbuck
David Clutterbuck was one of the very early pioneers of mentoring and coaching. Author of 55 books, a third of them on coaching and mentoring themes, he is visiting professor at both Sheffield Hallam and Oxford Brookes Universities. David co-founded the European Mentoring and Coaching Council and chairs the International Standards for Mentoring Programs in Employment.
Mentorship is a journey - but one that you need not take alone! When both parties within the mentoring relationship show respect for each other, the quality of that relationship is significantly improved.
Once again we invite you to share
your experiences with "respect" to this aspect of mentorship (which is all about RESPECT) and invite others to
participate where you feel they could add value to our discussion.
We asked:
•
What is the role
of RESPECT within a mentoring relationship?
•
What does RESPECT
mean to you?
•
How is RESPECT
developed between the mentoring partners?
Prof. David Clutterbuck
David Clutterbuck was one of the very early pioneers of mentoring and coaching. Author of 55 books, a third of them on coaching and mentoring themes, he is visiting professor at both Sheffield Hallam and Oxford Brookes Universities. David co-founded the European Mentoring and Coaching Council and chairs the International Standards for Mentoring Programs in Employment.
In our explorations of mentee competencies, one of the critical pairings is the two sides of respect: respect for each other and respect for oneself. Respect for others is a fairly easy concept to grasp, but respect for oneself requires a higher level of self-knowledge and introspection. The question “Would you want you as your best friend?” can provoke significant insight. Respecting oneself is not about pride or arrogance. It is about recognising and accepting the balance of qualities, the strengths and weaknesses that make each of us unique; about aiming to be our ideal self, but acknowledging that we will never fully succeed. Self-respect is about valuing our efforts to be that person, and forgiving ourselves for never quite getting there. Conversations with mentors give us the wisdom and insight to acquire this positive self-regard.Thank you David. It's great to have your insights on the important role that RESPECT has within today's mentoring relationships!
Mentorship is a journey - but one that you need not take alone! When both parties within the mentoring relationship show respect for each other, the quality of that relationship is significantly improved.
Here are a few practical tips that can improve the effectiveness of the mentorship relationships.
Tip # 1: Commit to being a full participant in the mentorship relationship. Make the decision to mentally “be there” when you get together or communicate with your mentoring partner. Set an adequate amount of time aside and focus, just as you would with your most important customer. Make every effort to avoid distractions. Without that commitment and RESPECT, your mentorship relationship is more likely to unravel, rather than develop as you desire.
Tip # 1: Commit to being a full participant in the mentorship relationship. Make the decision to mentally “be there” when you get together or communicate with your mentoring partner. Set an adequate amount of time aside and focus, just as you would with your most important customer. Make every effort to avoid distractions. Without that commitment and RESPECT, your mentorship relationship is more likely to unravel, rather than develop as you desire.
Tip # 2: Establish a professional tone to your telephone calls, email and personal communications. Some Mentors and Protégés may already know each other prior to entering into the Mentorship relationship, while others have only met through a matching process. Make every effort to keep your mentorship relationship at the highest level of professionalism, maintaining trust and keeping an appropriate focus in your conversations or activities. When you show respect for your mentor partner, respect comes back in your direction too.
Tip # 3: Value the time being committed to this relationship by your mentorship partner. Keep appointments and respond promptly. This clearly demonstrates that you respect the value of the other person's time. It can be very helpful in the early stages to discuss what each of you expects in terms of response times. We recommend documenting this and other key objectives in a “Mentorship Agreement” – something we cover within Pro-Vision’s Mentorship Program.
NOW - Please feel free to share your comments and experiences with this aspect of mentorship. Also, help us to reach others who could benefit from participating in this discussion. We welcome your 'sharing' this page with those in your circle of contacts!
NOW - Please feel free to share your comments and experiences with this aspect of mentorship. Also, help us to reach others who could benefit from participating in this discussion. We welcome your 'sharing' this page with those in your circle of contacts!
Questions:
•
What is the role
of RESPECT within a mentoring relationship?
•
What does RESPECT
mean to you?
•
How is RESPECT
developed between the mentoring partners?
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