Experienced and trusted adviser

• Gives information about career development, the organisation;
• Facilitates the mentee’s professional growth;
• Guide and confidante;
• Trustworthy person who supports, advises and encourages, constructive comments;
• Helps find solutions;
• Model of competence;
• Reflects what is expected and valued in the organisation; and
• Example or role model

Characteristics

• Must be volunteers interested in the program and what it is intended to accomplish;
• Effective one-on-one communicators who are able to express ideas;
• Awareness of diversity issues with a willingness to accept and value alternative cultures and perspectives;
• Self-awareness (understanding themselves) and behavioural awareness (understanding others);
• Business or professional shrewdness and a good sense of proportion;
• Commitment to their own learning and a strong interest in developing others;
• Relationship management skills (especially rapport building) and the ability to set and pursue clear goals;
• Has extensive experience, recognised know-how, a broad view and understanding of the organisation; and
• Respected by others, has influence and is secure in own position.

Benefits

• Personal satisfaction in sharing expertise and experiences and in helping less experienced persons;
• Helping to train the leaders of tomorrow;
• Enriches one's information and views of the organisation;
• Opportunity to encounter new ways of thinking and new perspectives and have their assumptions regarding the organisation challenged;
• Feeling of usefulness and chance to re-energise self, recognition;
• Development of own style of management and supervision; and
• Opportunities to test new ideas.

Potential problems
(Treasury Board of Canada)

• Investment of time and energy;
• Risk of poor pairing;
• Risk of disappointment if mentor has idealised view of the mentee, his or her performance and what should be achieved in the relationship;
• Risk of breach of confidentiality or trust;
• Risk of duplication of roles with mentee’s immediate superior; and
• Risk of relationship becoming too intense and engrossing.