Mentoring: Roles, Differences, Qualities and Strategies

Running head: MENTORING
Mentoring
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1MENTORING
Task 1
A. Introduction:
The greater rewards of a teacher, educator or mentor lies in inspiring another
teacher in the field of early childhood development in exploring newer ideas that
helped in promoting the development of young children. However, the goal of
mentoring process which involves the connection of the effective strategies to the
actual reaction of the teacher with the young children lies in doing something more
in addition to providing necessary inspiration along with knowledge sharing.
Mentor refers to the oldest and the broadest term related to providing an ongoing
guidance for supporting professional development. According to Lutton (2011),
mentoring represents a process based on the relationship between the colleagues
who belongs to similar roles professionally where the individual with more
experience on adult learning skills and knowledge, also known as mentor, provides
necessary guidance to the lesser experienced mentee. Thus, mentoring intends to
increase the professional or personal capacity of an individual thereby resulting in
higher effectiveness professionally.
Out of the different roles portrayed by the Mentor or coach, self assessment
remains the most important task to be carried by the coach or the mentor. The
mentors and the coaches should remain aware of their performance during the
sessions. However, the self assessment process is done through the answering of
self evaluation form. The answers will help in gauging the efficiency of the mentoring
and the coaching role and put forward an opportunity for the coach in improving on
areas that requires attention while coaching the mentees. In addition, the collection
of insights and feedback from the learners also acts helpful in the process of self
assessment.
Explanation of Coaching:
Coaching focuses on the task and the performance. The role of a
performance or skills coach lies in providing feedback to the observed performance.
Normally coaching takes place in the work place. The coach suggests or sets the
goals for learners and undertakes periodic measurement of the learner on the

2MENTORING
development of the newer skills. Therefore, a good working relationship is necessary
between the coach and the learner.
B. Mentoring:
The mentor’s role lies in building capability. A developmental mentor helps
learner in discovering their wisdom and motivates them in working towards the
career goals and the development of the self reliance.
Mentors Helps Learner Discover Wisdom
The mentoring relationship is such where the mentors do not have any control
over mentee since the choice of the centres depends on the personal goal of the
learner. Due to the mutual beneficial relationship there is development of a strong
bond which might even last a lifetime.
C. Differences between Coaching and Mentoring
Coaching Mentoring
Coaching is task oriented and helps in
bringing the learner to different
competency level based on learning
newer skills and knowledge. It focuses
primarily on the concrete issues like
more effective management, accurate
speaking and strategic thinking. To be
successful, it is vital for the coach to
possess the credibility as expert and
ensure effective communication to the
learners. Therefore, development of a
personal relationship is not crucial for
determining success.
Mentoring is however relationship oriented and
helps in providing a safer environment where a
mentee is able to share the critical issues
affecting his or her personal or professional
success. Although competences or specific
learning goals considered the base for creation
of relationship, the focus of mentoring goes
beyond the areas like self confidence, self
perception, work life balance and the means
by which the personal influences professional.
Content expertise does not play a critical role
for mentor since he or she acts more as a
facilitator than a coach.
Coaching is for short term and hence a Mentoring is always a long term procedure.

3MENTORING
coach can successfully get involved with
a learner for a shorter time period. The
duration of the coaching depends on the
purpose of coaching relationship
Successful mentoring needs time where both
the partners are able to learn from one another
and thereby ensure building a climate of trust
that leads to the creation of an environment
where the mentee is able to feel secured and
henceforth share the real issues impacting
success. The task discussed at the beginning
of mentoring relationship is more on the
general issues. However, for the success of a
mentoring relationship the program needs to
have duration of minimum nine month to close
to a year.
Coaching is driven by performance
driven whose purpose remains in
improving the performance of each
individual within the job. This involves
either the enhancement of current skills
or the acquirement of newer skills.
Coaching is no longer required on the
successful acquirement of the skills.
Mentoring is more development driven since
purpose remains in the development of
individuals not within the current job but for the
prospect of future. Such distinction helps in
differentiating the role of immediate manager
and the mentor. It also helps in reducing the
possibility of conflict creation between the
employee manager and concerned mentor.
Coaching do not require any design and
can be conducted immediately on any
topic. However, if a company seeks in
providing coaching to large group of
people, then it must certainly incorporate
a design for the program that helps in
determining the expertise and also
assessing the tools used. But it does not
need usually a longer lead time for
implementation.
A design phase is necessary for mentoring The
phase helps in determining strategic purpose of
the mentoring program that includes the focus
areas of relationship, mentoring model and the
specific components for guiding the
relationship with focus on matching process.
The immediate manager of the learner The immediate manager remains indirectly