Mentoring

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Mentoring

• Creating Tomorrows Leaders

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Topics

• Definition of mentoring
• Mentoring in CAP
• How to be a good mentor
• How to make the most of a mentor
• Case Studies
• Conclusion

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What is Mentoring?

• A relationship in which a person with greater
  experience and wisdom guides another person to
  develop both personally and professionally.
• AFI 36-3401, Air Force Mentoring
• Mentoring is a key ingredient for continuous
  improvement in members and organizations. It
  allows quick and efficient education and training
  for members. Mentoring builds peer respect,
  instills a team culture, and builds unit
  cohesion.
• CAPP 50-7, Mentoring Building Our Members

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Why is mentoring important?

• Joining a new organization can be daunting
• Most people want to succeed and do well, but a
  lot of people dont know how
• There are a lot of unwritten rules
• Organizations that do not cultivate new talent
  are doomed to fail

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Mentoring in CAP

• Guiding a member through their progression and
  professional development
• Setting a leadership example for new members
• Sharing knowledge of the organization, its
  history, and its core values
• Imbuing junior members with senior leadership
  experience and perspective

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Required Mentoring

• CAPR 52-16 requires that cadets aerospace tests
  are corrected to 100, and recommends the same
  for leadership tests
• Cadets could be paired with the same mentor each
  time, to build rapport and allow the senior cadet
  to expand on the material being corrected
• Apply leadership theory to everyday life

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Attributes to Instill in Cadets

• Phase I (C/AB C/SrA)

• Phase II (C/SSgt C/CMSgt)

• Displays a positive attitude
• Aware of the Core Values, honest, wears uniform
  properly, practices courtesies
• Listens attentively, asks good questions
• Follows directions, dependable, prompt

• Maintains positive attitude, does not flaunt rank
  or authority
• Displays commitment to Core Values, promotes team
  spirit and professionalism
• Proficient in informal public speaking
• Enforces standards
• Guides and coaches junior cadets

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Traits of a good mentor

• Makes uninterrupted time to meet w/protege
• Provides a sense of vision
• How is what Im doing important to CAP/myself?
• Actively listens
• Provides information
• Encourages
• Masters the Art of Asking Questions

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Pitfalls to avoid

• Criticizing too harshly, or before knowing the
  entire story
• Giving advice too freely
• Bailing out
• Weve seen quite enough of this lately!

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How to use a mentor

• Ask a lot of questions
• Be receptive to criticism and observations
• Keep the mentor abreast of your accomplishments
• Maintain confidentiality and trust
• Be sincere

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Case Study 1 Gomer Pyle

• You are assigned to mentor C/Amn Bagadonuts, who
  usually shows up late, looking like a soup
  sandwich, and hasnt tested in a year
• How would you initiate the relationship?
• What topics would you try to cover?
• What techniques would you apply?
• What resources are at your disposal?

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Case Study 2 SM Mom

• A relatively new senior member is assigned as
  your mentor, and wants to meet with you regularly
  to aid in your leadership development
• How would you initiate the relationship?
• What could you learn from the senior member?
• How could this relationship benefit the mentor?

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Conclusion

• Mentoring is an informal relationship, not
  necessarily a chain of command one
• Contact hours are key you have to talk
  regularly, preferably face-to-face
• Being an effective mentor is a balancing act of
  active and passive behaviors
• Allowing yourself to be mentored is every bit as
  important as what the mentor is doing