Sponsoring, Mentoring & Coaching

Sponsoring, Coaching & Mentoring

What is coaching:

Coaching is an outcome-focused activity that fosters self-directed learning. Coaching is often undertaken by professional coaches who are trained in the art of developing others. However, anyone can be a coach by following specific practices including peers and managers. Coaching should be a result orientated process. Coaches often use the iGROW model to ask questions which can encourage the coachee being developed to stop, think, learn and grow.

The acronym iGROW stands for:

  • Issue: Identifying the issue or problem
  • Goal: Forming and articulating a specific goal (i.e., what does the person want to achieve)
  • Reality: Assessing the current situation (for instance, available resources) and inner thoughts to gain clarity over the situation.

  • Options: Listing the possibilities. 
  • Way Forward: Choosing one of the options and convert decisions into action. Define the needed actions, and who is accountable. What will be done, and by when?

 

The job of the coach is never to tell the coachee what to do but assist the coachee to take responsibility for attaining their own career and life objectives. A coach, unlike a mentor, has probably not had the specific career experiences a mentor would have in terms of the person being developed but has a lot of experience at facilitating learning and development.

What is mentoring:

Mentoring is a developmental relationship between a less experienced individual and a more experienced person. Mentors are someone who has walked in a similar path to the one the mentee wishes to follow, helping the mentees by providing guidance and support to improve how they are performing in their current role and life, or ongoing development needed to follow their desired future career and life path.
Mentors may often be your manager or someone at the next level up in an organization. They may use their own experiences and learning to give insight to the mentee and may also use the iGROW model to provide a structure for asking questions of the mentee that can assist them to think through their life and career goals. We all develop best as adults when we take responsibility for our own development.
Over the duration of RISE, you will be working in your mentoring pairs or small groups. Download the Ok Tedi Mentoring Guide below under ‘Further Reading’ to help facilitate the process of how to be a good Mentor and Mentee.

What is sponsoring:

Sponsoring is the process of a mentor nominating or actively supporting a mentee by putting them forward for promotion at an appropriate stage in the mentee’s development. They are therefore the most valuable mentors to have at the right stages in your career. As a mentee, you are accountable for your own learning and growth. Your coach, sponsor or mentor is not responsible for this.

How to be a great mentor:

Explain your role and establish expectations.

Ask the mentee what their priorities are in meeting with you.

Activity listen to mentees as they are not just an empty vessel into which you pour your knowledge.

If you promise to look into an issue or provide a resource to the mentee, do so

FURTHER READING

Don't forget to mark as complete and select next topic

Click the below green button

;