What is mentoring?
A mentor is a guide. He or she has gained substantial practical experience that is directly relevant to the needs of the person who is receiving the mentoring (the ‘mentee’). Moreover
the mentor has been trained to share knowledge, so that other people can succeed.
Correctly utilised, mentoring is an extremely powerful technique, with much longer lasting benefits than many other forms of training and development.
Why Mentoring?
When a project is under pressure, the project manager is in the firing line. Maybe that is justified, but
consider just how much support that individual has been given. Sometimes a project manager will be undertaking his or her first project and has received only rudimentary training. Unless he or she has been able to assemble a
management team with the skills and resources that they lack, the seeds may have been sown for project failure
A mentor provides an extra pair of eyes for your project, spotting problems on the horizon and helping you deal with them in time.
Mentoring is a practical and affordable alternative to other forms of training and development because it is there only when you need it.
The Open Enterprise Mentoring Service
Open Enterprise mentors have substantial practical experience and a record of successful project delivery in a wide range of environments and disciplines.
The mentor starts by developing a personal 'contract' between him or herself and the mentee. This is to ensure that mutual trust and respect is developed from the outset. This is followed by a short project review. The mentor and mentee then meet together once a month. However, the mentor is 'on-call' whenever the mentee wants advice or simply wants to bounce ideas off someone outside the team.
Open Enterprise mentors bring a cost-effective additional resource to your organisation. No only do we help to develop the mentee's own skills, but on the wider scale we help the organisation to adopt a open learning culture and a professional approach to project management. All of this will help you to tackle the next project with greater skill and confidence.
Why do top sportsmen and women employ coaches and mentors? Answer: Because they want to become the best and
stay there.
Most project managers are in the lead role for the first time. When the momentum starts to build, so does that
pressure and the need for encouragement and support.
The
Project Mentor is not a substitute or a deputy. They have only one objective,
which is to see the Project
Manager succeed."
Quote:
"As a project director I needed two things: the project manager to be
successful (which meant they achieved ALL their objectives), and someone
to give me concise feedback on where to apply my influence.
The mentor helped both of us to achieve our objectives."
CG, London
info@openterprise.co.uk
Open Enterprise
8 Albyn Terrace
Aberdeen AB10 1YP
Tel. +44 (0) 1224 626699