We have recently commenced our 2022 mentorship programme which aims to support individuals through mentoring. The scheme focusses on those working in the construction dispute industry actively pursuing a career in dispute resolution or expert services.
With a career spanning 33 years, giving back support and knowledge to those who require it most is the obvious thing to do.
So what’s involved? What do both sides get out of mentoring? We have provided a brief narrative of the undertaking and ambitions for the programme:
What is a Mentor?
A mentor is typically an experienced professional who shares their knowledge and experiences with mentees to help them to develop their careers over a period of time. This is often confused with coaching. However, coaching focusses more on short-term goals, for quick implementation.
Both mentor and mentee gain from the relationship. The mentee benefits from experience and knowledge, the mentor benefits from learning how the mentees approach a situation with a solution or outcome. It offers both parties a different perspective.
It takes time and commitment, but it feels good. Often mentees want to pay the support they receive forward by helping someone else rise to their potential too.
The mentor is there to listen and to provide guidance and assistance on careers and professional development. It is not about managing the mentee. Mentors can also give their mentees fun challenges for completion between meetings. This, in turn, helps develop skills and the relationship between both parties.
Key Areas for Mentoring
The four key areas of mentorship are:
- Build trust. First and foremost, there must be trust between the mentee and mentor.
- Establish goals and share lessons learned.
- Take action.
- Celebrate successes.
What Do Both Sides Get?
Mentoring can also help someone gain confidence and experience, which will help them achieve their career goals. This might be in public speaking at events or through raising their industry profile by writing blogs and sharing their projects.
The mentor/mentee relationship should be informal. The mentor should be approachable and supportive. Regular check-ins should be scheduled.
Mentors can be role models for their mentees, who will likely become mentors themselves.
Summary
The process of giving back by professional industry professionals will hopefully encourage our mentees to pass on their knowledge and experience in the forthcoming years of their stellar careers.
Interested in Damian James’ mentoring scheme? Get in touch today.