Mentoring/Formal/USA/Guidelines

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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

Mentee: Finding a Mentor	Mentor: How to become a Mentor
Ask an experienced person you notice in the Forum or Mentoring Forum list to mentor you. Ask an experienced person for a suggestion about who might mentor you. Make a request on the Mentoring Forum for help.	Read and be familiar with this document. Ensure you have time and can articulate the amount of time you have to any inquiring Mentee. Make yourself available by registering as a Mentor with Waze. Participate and make yourself available on the Mentoring Forum.

Second: Find a Match & Make an Agreement

Not every potential Mentee-Mentor combination will work. Mentees might have to ask several people in sequence to be mentored until they find the right person. A particular Mentor may not have a compatible schedule with the Mentee or might already have a number of other Mentees they are helping.

Mentee: Agreement with a Mentor

Mentor: Agreement with a Mentee

Try to match with a mentor who is active in the same area where you are active (not always critical) Send a formal request via PM to the Mentor. Identify yourself, your experience, what you need help with, and how you prefer to engage with the Mentor. Ask if they can help you. Continue dialog with potential Mentor to clarify what is needed. Consider if the Mentor is a match in skill and personality to you. If the Mentor is not a match, seek another.

Respond to requests for mentoring by giving some of your background, asking for clarification if needed. Continue dialogue with potential Mentee to ensure a successful relationship. If you’re not the right person, be prepared to suggest alternative Mentor(s) and explain why. Consider the personality of the particular mentee, your own skills, geographical area, common work hours, any conflicting commitments, and avoiding overcommitment.

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: