Topic 12: The Mentor Map

ILM Level 3 Award in Effective Mentoring

The Mentor Map

In this section, we will explore the main stages of the mentoring journey and what it means for you as a mentor.

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The Mentor Map

In her book, The Mentoring Manual (2014) Julie Starr sets out the main stages of the mentoring journey. Over the course of our learning, we have considered good practice knowledge, skills and behaviours for each stage. Explore each of the following stages:

1. Set up: prepare to mentor

2. Set out: begin, get started

3. Navigate: mantain progress

4. Set down: consolidate learning

5. Parting ways: complete the relationship

The Mentor Map

The last stage of the journey is the parting of ways. In the mentoring contract, you will have agreed a set number of sessions for your mentoring relationship. As you approach the end of these agreed sessions, it’s important to consider how you want to wrap up the relationship. This doesn’t mean you won’t see each other again, but it does mean your role as a mentor is moving into a different stage.

Concluding the Mentorship Journey: Key Considerations for a Supportive and Reflective Closure

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Set up: prepare to mentor

• Echange basic details/ profiles
• Decide how much structure
• Consider your purpose for mentoring
• Identify any practical boundaries
• Devide your initial approach

Parting ways: complete the relationship

• Final summaries and acknowledgements
• Agreements/ options for future contact
• Informal completion conversation

Some of the things you may want to consider are:

• There may be sadness that the sessions are ending and this needs to be acknowledged
• A review of progress made towards the goal and other learning the mentee has gained from you as their mentor helps to celebrate what you have created together
• You can explore other sources of support available to the mentee
• You can discuss whether you both want to continue contact and how this will work

Set out: begin, get started

• Establish tone for the relationship
• Get to know each other
• Understand your mentee's aspirations and purpose
• Agree expectations
• Agree review methods, e.g. exchanging feedback

Set down: consolidate learning

• Review progress of overall assignment/ relationship
• Identify key journey themes/ points of learning
• Offer request and feedback
• Identify support/ development methods going forward
• Agree schedule to complete

Navigate: maintain progress

• Fulful the practical function of a mentor
• Maintain tone of the relationship
• Evolve your 'inner mentor'
• Informal reviews of process and approach