Mentoring

Mentoring is a classic formula for the transfer of knowledge based on an expert-student relationship. This relationship is oriented towards discovering and developing the student’s potential. However, the role of the expert is to inspire, stimulate, motivate and shape the student. A mentor is an expert in sharing experience. Mentoring is a partner relationship between a mentor and mentee.

The word „mentor” comes from Greek mythology. Odysseus, leaving for the Trojan war, entrusted Mentor with the care of his wife Penelope, his son Telemach, his home and all his property. When Telemach left to search for his father, the goddess Athena played the role of Mentor accompanying the young warrior.

Mythology therefore strengthens the good guardian syndrome, where we will not hesitate to entrust to people, their affairs and most valuable things in life. At the moment when the son follows his father, the mentor becomes the embodiment of the guardian deity, a kind of guide.

The concept of a mentor, as a senior experienced teacher, whose knowledge can be drawn by young people, was popularized in France in the seventeenth century by François Fénelon in the song “Les Aventures de Telemaque, fils d’Ulysse”.

You want someone experienced to listen to you. You need specific advice. You need someone to tell you how they see your problem. You need someone you can trust to share your experience. You need support in finding a solution path. You need someone with experience to independently tell you what they think about your issue and your proposed solution.

1. Mentee is a source of resources
Mentee has the skills and potential that are enough to overcome any difficulties. Although the mentor helps him / her to identify barriers, it is the mentee that makes the decisions.

2. Mentee chooses the topic of the meeting
It is about your professional and personal development, so you choose the topic, and my job is to help you using my experiences.

3. Mentee and mentor are equal
Both sides are partners for each other, and respect is the basis of cooperation.

4.Holistic treatment
Mentoring is not psychoanalysis, but to make the work satisfactory and full, the mentee situation should be considered in a broader context, often referring not only to the present, but also to the past and the future, for example, his / her past professional experience.

5. Mentoring is aimed at extracting resources
Instruction is not given. As your mentor I will support you by placing thought challenges and asking deep questions.

6. The purpose of mentoring is development and operation
Your participation in mentoring results from the need for change and development. The parties express such a wish because they want to develop their potential, which is why it is impossible to work with a person who is not motivated. If one of the parties, despite declarations, fails to fulfill his obligations, this should be a signal to reconsider cooperation.