Focus video player for keyboard shortcuts
Auto
- HD
- 720p
- 540p
- 360p
1.00x
cc
- 0.50x
- 0.75x
- 1.00x
- 1.25x
- 1.50x
- 1.75x
- 2.00x
We hope you enjoyed this lesson.
Cool lesson, huh? Share it with your friends
About this lesson
How to ensure your mentee builds essential skills for growth as well as self-confidence and independence.
Quick reference
Encouraging Independence and Growth
This lesson discusses the importance of encouraging independence and growth in a mentoring relationship and how this can be fostered effectively.
Notes
Importance of Independence
Independence in a mentoring relationship encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, and self-confidence. A mentor's role is to guide, not to dictate actions.
Avoiding Micromanagement
- Micromanaging can hinder a mentee's personal growth and their ability to learn from their experiences.
Empowering Decision-Making
- Mentees should take ownership of their projects or tasks. Open-ended questions can encourage mentees to think independently and develop problem-solving skills.
Encouraging Self-Reflection
- Self-reflection can help mentees evaluate their progress and identify areas for improvement. Questions like "What went well?" and "What could you have done differently?" can stimulate this reflection.
Providing Stretch Opportunities
- Stretch opportunities, or tasks beyond the mentee's current skills and comfort zone, can promote confidence and accelerate growth.
Recognizing and Celebrating Achievements
- Celebrating the mentee's successes, no matter how small, fosters motivation and eagerness to take on new challenges.
Maintaining Open Communication
- Open communication is key to a successful mentoring relationship. Regular check-ins, consistent feedback, discussion of progress, and addressing challenges are all part of this open communication.
If a mentee feels a lack in any of these areas, it is essential for them to communicate these needs to their mentor and advocate for their own growth.
Login to download- 00:04 Welcome back.
- 00:05 Our next topic is a crucial aspect of mentoring relationships,
- 00:09 encouraging independence and growth.
- 00:13 The relationship between mentors and mentees provides plenty of opportunities
- 00:18 for them to learn from each other, but what it should not become Is an excuse for
- 00:24 a mentor to force the actions their mentee takes.
- 00:27 Independence is so important for a mentee in this kind of relationship.
- 00:32 Independence encourages critical thinking, problem solving, and
- 00:37 the development of self-confidence.
- 00:40 Your role as a mentor is to act like a guide, not a dictator.
- 00:45 So let's discuss how to foster this independence and
- 00:49 personal growth in your mentee.
- 00:52 First, don't micromanage.
- 00:54 It might feel natural to oversee every action, particularly if you've had
- 00:59 a traditional managerial role, but you must resist the urge.
- 01:03 Micromanaging will impede a mentees growth and
- 01:06 it hampers their ability to learn from their own experiences.
- 01:10 So show your mentee the path, but don't walk it for them.
- 01:16 Next, empower your mentee to make decisions.
- 01:20 Let them take ownership of their projects or tasks.
- 01:23 Ask open-ended questions that encourage them to think through issues and
- 01:28 find solutions.
- 01:30 For instance, if your mentee runs into a problem during a project,
- 01:33 resist the urge to provide immediate answers.
- 01:36 Instead, ask, what do you think could be an effective solution?
- 01:41 This encourages independent thought and boosts their problem solving skills.
- 01:47 Another important tactic is to encourage self-reflection.
- 01:51 Ask your mentee questions like, what went well and
- 01:54 what could you have done differently?
- 01:57 This can develop their ability to view their progress objectively and
- 02:01 identify areas for improvement independently.
- 02:04 A great way to encourage growth is to provide stretch opportunities or
- 02:08 tasks beyond their current skills and comfort zone.
- 02:12 Supporting your mentee in taking on new and
- 02:15 challenging tasks can bolster their confidence and accelerate growth.
- 02:19 It might also be a great way to identify more tasks that they're ready for, or
- 02:24 reveal key foundational skills they need to secure before they continue
- 02:28 their journey.
- 02:30 And let's not forget the power of recognition.
- 02:33 Celebrate your mentees' successes, no matter how small.
- 02:37 Recognition fosters motivation, boosting their eagerness to take on new challenges.
- 02:44 Ultimately, maintaining open communication is key to a successful mentoring
- 02:49 relationship.
- 02:50 Regularly check in with your mentee, provide consistent feedback and
- 02:54 address any challenges they face.
- 02:58 Now, if you're a mentee, look at this list.
- 03:01 If you feel like any of these pieces are not fitting in your current relationship,
- 03:07 it might be time to reach out to your mentor and ask for
- 03:11 a stretch opportunity or request that ability to make your own decisions.
- 03:16 To help yourself grow, you sometimes need to push that envelope and
- 03:22 tell other people what you need.
- 03:24 And with that in mind, in the next lesson, we'll dive into the skill of navigating
- 03:29 difficult conversations, a great skill for both mentors and mentees, see you then.
Lesson notes are only available for subscribers.