Mentoring/Formal/USA/Guidelines

This new page is currently undergoing modifications. The information presented should be considered a draft, not yet ready for use. If you would like to contribute to this content, please consider posting in the US Wiki Discussion forum first to discuss your ideas.

Overview

This information is intended for those considering Formal Mentoring and as reference for those who are already in a Formal Mentoring relationship. As a guideline, it should help you decide if Formal Mentoring is right for you and provide Mentors and Mentees a better understanding of approach and options. You may choose to utilize only parts of this guideline or add other approaches that suit your needs.

For general information and informatoin on Informal Mentoring, see the USA Mentoring Page.

Formal Mentoring Approach

Consider a Formal Mentoring approach as four steps that you can take in sequence. Review all the steps before you actually decide to participate in Formal Mentoring as a Mentee or Mentor.

Step 1: Do you want to be mentored or be a mentor?

Before you ask to be mentored (become a Mentee), or to become a Mentor, consider if this is the right approach for you.

Potential Mentees: Have you already read the Wiki? Have you looked through the Forum to see what topics make sense and engaged in conversation there?

Potential Mentors: Do you have enough time and patience to mentor others? Do you know what Waze skills you’d like to teach to others? Consider the benefits, responsibilities, and decisions below before you engage in mentoring.

Benefits

Benefits for the Mentee:

Benefits for the Mentor:

Learning the Waze environment and network of people more quickly. Having trusted individuals to ask questions without fear of asking a dumb question because they understand that you are still learning. Access to a trusted “sounding board” for your ideas and actions to share in confidence. Possibility to “act above your rank” during the mentorship, in order to learn skills appropriate to the next rank up. Potential accelerated access as an Area Manager or Country Manager.

Increased contribution to the Waze community by leveraging your knowledge. Better insight into broader ideas affecting Waze, increased network of contacts. Improved self-awareness and skill development. By building up other members towards your own level, you reduce the long-term burden on yourself in managing your areas Mentors learn from Mentees!

Responsibilities

Responsibilities of the Mentee:	Responsibilities of the Mentor:
Having a mentor is a privilege and opportunity. Respect time of the Mentor, seek other sources of information such as the Forum and Wiki before engaging the Mentor and during the mentoring process. Write down and tell the Mentor one or more goals you have in the relationship. Respect confidences.	Being a Mentor is a privilege and responsibility. Help the Mentee, be supportive, be positive, be understanding. Respect confidences. Ask the Mentee what they want to accomplish. Put effort and energy into molding the Mentee, allowing him or her to grow in capability and rank/responsibility

Commitment

Decisions of the Mentee:	Decisions of the Mentor:
Can you articulate what kind of help you need? Do you have time to receive the mentoring you’re asking for? Do you want a formal mentor rather than asking for help in the Forum or WME chat?	Do you know and can you articulate the skill sets that you’d like to mentor? Do you have time to be responsible to potential Mentees? Rather than becoming a formal Waze Mentor, would you like to keep it simple, and just offer help in the Forum or WME chat?

Step 2: How do I find a Waze Mentor or become a Mentor?

If you are comfortable with the ideas in Step 1, then you need to find a Mentor or Mentee, enter into an agreement, and start participating. Here's how:

First: Identify candidates or make yourself available as a Mentor

TBD

Second: Find a Match & Make an Agreement

TBD

Step 3: Ideas about how to engage in Mentoring Relationship

Once you are in a formal Mentee-Mentor pair, then you need to plan, start, and achieve your objectives to complete your mentoring

Step 4: Completing the Mentoring relationship

After you achieve your objectives, you're not done! Consider the following items: