Mentors - Uganda
- Uganda
- Resources
- Capacity Building
- Mentors
Quick information guide
To choose a good mentor:
- Identify areas that need strengthening: what skills do you need to learn immediately?
- Assess your mentor: are you likely to clash with him/her? Do you have the same values? Is he/her a good listener?
- Accept challenges: are you encouraged to learn/try something new?
- Get ready to return the favour: what can your mentor learn from you?
For mentorship to succeed, both mentor and mentee should mind:
- Timing
- Clarifying expectations
- Logistics (management)
- Respecting their energy
- Accepting feedback
- Personalising mentorship
Types of mentorship and benefits
1. Outside the company
This is an informal linkage with suitable experts, these mentors are generally neutral and objective. The mentee gets a chance of being connected to:
Benefits
- wider knowledge and experiences
- business owners (especially for senior business managers)
- wider network and contacts
2. Within the company
This is a formal, structured employee learning through linkage with senior experienced people in a given Organisation/Company. This type is generally used as a way of nurturing an internal pool of good employees and leaders for succession.
Benefits
This type of mentorship helps to:
- Build strong organisational culture and employee morale
- Plan for succession easily
- grow the company in a focused and measurable way
Mentorship in Uganda
"The key to success is your commitment, both to your business and to your mentoring relationship" - Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET)
This is an invaluable support and learning tool but for the mentor/mentee relationship to work, both parties have to receive positive benefits from it.
In Uganda, organisations that support women in business usually provide mentoring services.
4 steps to creating a structured company mentoring programme
- Define programme objectives (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timed - SMART)
- Create structure to deliver
- Train participants on mentorship and launch
- Continuously assess and improve
Tips for a successful mentorship
- Timing
Mentors: Find a mentee - it's never too late
Mentees: express your need clearly - Clarify expectations
Mentors: Why?
Mentees: What do you want out of this? - Manage logistics
Mentors: How and where and regularity of meetings
Mentees: Be proactive with scheduling - Respect their energy
Mentors: Invest in your mentee's success
Mentees: Your mentor's time is valuable - treat it that way - Embrace feedback
Mentors: Give open, honest input - even when it's hard
Mentees: View feedback as a gift - Personalise mentorship
Mentors: invest yourselves in the success of your mentee
Mentees: Build trust with your mentor