The Prince's Initiative for Mature Enterprise

Mentors are required to:

•engage with mentees to agree how mentoring could support their prospective or existing business

•engage with mentees from across the mentoring organisation’s market

•agree a programme of mentoring activity that best meets the needs of their mentee

•encourage their mentee to express and discuss their ideas, concerns and understanding of the business situation facing them

•help mentees to review their progress and set realistic and practical options to realise their goals

 •help mentees to reflect on and learn from things that did not turn out as expected

•refer mentees to other sources of information, advice or further support when appropriate

•encourage mentees to take responsibility for their own decisions, plans and actions

•present a positive image of business mentoring and follow the code of practice for the organisation being represented

•keep up-to-date and accurate records of mentee contact

Mentor competencies The mentor needs to possess or develop the following competencies in order to undertake the mentoring role effectively:

•Excellent communication skills to include active listening and personal presentation skills

•Effective time management

•Relationship building and networking

•Personal development

•Maintaining records and preparing written reports  

•Risk management – personal and business related

•People development

•Influencing and negotiation

 

Knowledge and understanding  

•The difference between the role of a mentor and the role of other business support professionals e.g. coach, adviser or consultant

•The code of ethics/conduct for mentoring as set by the organisation being represented

•Rules on confidentiality and data protection and how to follow them

•The mentoring process to include the mentoring agreement/contract entered into with the organisation being represented

•The mentoring relationship and the importance of using the most effective communication methods to create a productive mentoring environment

•How a business works (essential enterprise know-how)

Personal behaviours Mentors should have the ability to:

•Respect the mentee’s need for information, commitment and confidentiality

•Listen and respond effectively and check understanding

•Adapt their personal style to empathise with a whole range of mentees

•Build and maintain rapport over sustained periods of time

•Invite a two-way exchange of information and feedback with mentees and others

•Display excellent interpersonal skills to include influencing and negotiation

•Take a flexible approach to work

•Be emotionally resilient and be able to work in a challenging environment

 

Experience

•Successful hands-on professional expertise in key business areas including marketing, sales, law, finance/accounting, HR, IT, customer service, research, imports/exports