Introduction for Mentors

You are cordially invited by the ABC Undergraduate Studies Committee to be an ABC mentor. Your willingness to participate and your expertise will provide guidance to enhance the professional growth of our members.

What is your commitment? The Mentor and Mentee will discuss goals and objectives, as well as protocols by which the partnership will work (see Mentor Program Partnership Agreement). We hope you will try this for six to twelve months.

Your Mentor Co-coordinator will contact each of you after six months to request your mid-point assessment and to help as needed. At the end of twelve months, you will be contacted again for your assessment and you may decide at that point if you wish to continue. At any point during the twelve months, either party may decide to discontinue the relationship. This closure will be used as a learning opportunity.

How will mentors and mentees work together? The mentoring partnership will probably be conducted through e-mail and telephone conversations. Ideally, the mentor team can meet in person at least one ABC convention or conference during the mentoring period.

What does a mentoring relationship require?
The relationship requires honesty, trust, care, commitment, and a desire to serve. As a mentor, your role is to listen, explain, model, encourage, guide, and challenge.

If you are an ABC mentor, you should...

• Be enthusiastic and have a positive attitude.
• Approach the mentee on the basis of mutual respect.
• Listen without an agenda.
• Share common experiences.
• Encourage the mentee to express his/her ideas, even if they are different from your own.
  

If you are an ABC Mentor, you should not…

• Be afraid to admit you don’t know something.
• Approach the relationship as an authority figure.
• Be judgmental or controlling in the relationship.
• Complete assignments or activities for the mentee.
• Develop an inflated view of your role.

What does mentoring offers the mentee?

• A professional opinion provided free of charge based on experience in the field of business communication (perhaps specific expertise in teaching, career development in higher education, consulting, or workplace)
• An opportunity to confidentially discuss issues related to business communication practice
• A fresh perspective on seemingly daunting issues
• A creative but proven suggestions for handling business communication challenges
• A doorway to additional networking to resolve an issue or obtain critical information
• Encouragement and assurance from a mentor who shares the mentee's profession and skills

What mentoring isn't:

• an employment agency
• a long-term counseling or consulting source
• a research provider
• an instant crisis solver
• a 24/7 service
  

Interested in joining or getting more information? Go to the How to Join page.