Topic 1: Virtual
mentoring roles
Ma whero ma pango ka oti ai te mahi
With red and black the work
will be complete
(When we co-operate the work is completed)
Many roles are required in the mentoring journey:
·
role model
·
champion
·
cheerleader
·
leader
·
guide
·
adviser
·
counsellor
·
coach
·
sponsor
·
protector
·
preceptor
Mentees must be given a voice. My role as a mentor may vary frequently
depending on the situation, time, and challenge. I can support by encouraging my mentee to
hold a mirror to their practice.
Steps in the mentoring model:
·
Listen without interruption
·
Invite more information
·
Summarise/paraphrase
·
Check
·
Follow where your mentee goes
·
Move to possibility and action
·
Systemic connection
·
Specific action and timeline…
Working through this module requires us to think of
qualities of someone who has been or is of significant support in my life. I have chosen to reflect on a friend who is
always there, supporting me in my various family, work, life balance
roles. I am extremely grateful for this
support!
Qualities of my significant supporter:
·
listener;
·
challenger;
·
calmer;
·
provoker;
·
supporter;
·
reassure;
·
honest reflector;
·
realist;
·
positivist;
·
friend.
Western roles of a mentor can be described as follows:
·
directive,
·
non-directive,
·
nurturing and
·
stretching.
Placing a cultural lens on mentoring roles allows for Pasifika
terms:
·
Directive - Fa'a tonu
·
Guiding - Ta'ita'i
·
Exploring - Iloilo / Su'e su'e
·
Supporting - Lagolago
·
Challenging - Lu'i tau
·
Catalysing - Fa'atupa manatu
The role of questioning is critical in our mentoring role:
·
Investigator (knowledge): Who, what, when,
where, why, how . . . ? Could you please describe . . . ?
·
Guide (comprehension): Would I be right in
thinking...? What did you understand from...?”
·
Mentor (application): How do you feel X is an
example of Y?; How would you say that X is related to Y?; Why do you feel that
X is significant in your context?
·
Coach (analysis): What are the identifiable
aspects of . . . ? Would you classify X according to Y?
·
Investigator (synthesis): What are your thoughts
around solutions for . . . ? What would you infer from . . . ? What are your
additional reactions to . . . ? How might you go about designing a new . . . ?
What could happen if you added . . . ?
·
Advisor (evaluation): What do you about trying .
. . ? What is the most important outcome for.. . ? Which would you say are the
highest priority for . . . ? What would help you decide to . . . ?
DVM Module 2:1
McKenzie's Questioning Toolkit 17 types of question are listed,
Active listening involves comprehending, retaining and
responding.
The more time I spend with the DVM modules, the more
enthralled I become. Like anything, the
more you read and do, the more you realize how much there is to read and learn,
the more I want to read and learn.
As mentoring increasingly becomes our way of supporting
Principals and e-leaders, I am grabbing any opportunity available to grow
myself in this role.
I have just started reading the book “A more beautiful question” which is
challenging me and growing me in my curiosity… but that is another post,
another read, another day…
