Introduction
In the spring of 2001 a strategic planning process began to identify strategies that will assist the State University in moving to the front ranks of higher education. Specific initiatives on which to focus our efforts were identified. One of these initiatives is targeted at leadership development. To this end, a Mentoring Program has been designed to prepare management staff for leadership roles.
Program Overview
The Mentoring Program is a professional development opportunity for all management staff. This opportunity is especially important in assisting women, minorities, or individuals with disabilities to rise to higher career levels. Participation in the program is voluntary. An employee seeking a mentoring experience will be paired by the Program Coordinator with an employee from a different State University campus, or the Plaza, offering to share their knowledge and experience.
What is Mentoring?
Mentoring is defined as
"a deliberate pairing of a more skilled or more experienced person with
a less experienced one, with the mutually agreed goal of having the less skilled
person grow and develop specific competencies."
(Source: Beyond the Myths and Magic of Mentoring by Margo Murray, 2001)
Mentoring is a process by which the mentor and mentee work together to discover and develop the mentee's knowledge, skills, and ability, offering knowledge, wisdom, insight, or perspective that is especially useful to the mentee's personal and professional development.
Benefits of Mentoring
Mentoring provides benefits to the mentor, mentee, and the organization.
Benefits to mentees include personal and professional growth, career development, and an opportunity to cultivate management, leadership, and interpersonal skills. It can also result in rewarding professional contacts.
Benefits to mentors include recognition as a role model and respected member of the community, as well as the opportunity to expand leadership and interpersonal skills.
Mentoring is an effective succession planning strategy that benefits the organization in numerous ways. Mentoring can be a valuable tool in recruitment, retention, knowledge transfer, job satisfaction, workforce development, and the promotion of diversity.
Characteristics of a Mentor
Desirable characteristics for a mentor to possess include:
- Belief in institution's vision, mission, core values, and initiatives
- Acknowledged expertise in a particular field(s)
- Willingness to share knowledge and experience
- Willingness and ability to commit time and energy to the mentoring relationship
- Commitment to personal and professional development for self and others
- Ability to motivate and lead others
- Achievement oriented
- Good listening and communication skills
- Good coaching and feedback skills
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
Characteristics of a Mentee
Desirable characteristics for a mentee to possess include:
- Commitment to and sense of responsibility for self-development
- Personal vision and sense of desired career path
- Positive attitude
- Willingness to commit time and energy to the mentoring relationship
- Eagerness to learn
- Openness to change
- Demonstrates initiative and independence
- Willingness to take risks
- Willingness to accept constructive feedback
- Good listening and communication skills
What is the Time Commitment?
Although a good mentoring relationship may continue on an informal basis for many years, the Mentor Program is for a formal period of 6-12 months. The time frame should be long enough to allow for the achievement of desired goals and objectives. There are no defined schedule requirements, although a mutually agreed upon schedule should be developed to ensure that enough time will be devoted to the mentoring relationship.
How Can I Get Involved?
If you are interested in serving as a mentor or mentee, please complete and submit the appropriate application form from the list under forms at the end of this section. The program coordinator will then partner mentors with mentees.
Program Coordinator
The program coordinator will serve as a liaison throughout the mentoring relationship to assist the mentor and mentee in achieving the desired outcome.
Ssubmit completed mentor/mentee applications to or seek addional information about the mentoring program from:
Donna Amiraian Mentoring
Program Coordinator
Director of Human Resource Development
SUNY System Administration
State University Plaza, Room S125
Albany, NY 12246
tel: 518-443-5519
fax: 518-443-5521
amiraide@sysadm.suny.edu
Reference(s):
SkillSoft E-Learning
Many SUNY campuses offer SkillSoft e-learning. The catalog includes several on-line mentoring courses, including: Effective Mentoring, The Mentoring Manager, Achieving Success with the Help of a Mentor, and Mentoring Essentials Simulations. Also included in the catalog of 400 business skills courses are lessons on communication, coaching, giving feedback, and building effective relationships. Mentors and mentees are encourages to request a user id and password from their Office of Human Resources.
Form(s):
Mentee Application (Application to be mentored - SUNY's Mentoring Program for Management Staff) (MSWord fill-in) or (PDF non fill-in) or (PDF fill-in)
Mentor Application (Application
to be a mentor - SUNY's Mentoring Program for Management Staff) (MSWord
fill-in) or (PDF non fill-in) or (PDF
fill-in)