Successful mentoring relationships move through a four phase cycle - preparing, negotiating, enabling, and coming to closure. Each phase varies in length from one relationship to another. If you've ever wondered why some of your past mentoring relationship didn't work out, it may be because you skipped over one of these phases. Read on!
Getting Ready. The work of the preparing phase focuses on getting ready for initiating the relationship.
Establishing Agreements. The work of the second phase, negotiating, focuses on establishing agreements that include well-defined learning goals, success criteria and measurement, delineation of mutual responsibility, accountability, and protocols for addressing stumbling blocks, consensual mentoring agreement and a workplan for achieving learning goals.
Mentoring at Work. The third phase, enabling, encompasses most of the work. It is typically the longest phase and offers the greatest opportunity for learning and development.
Closure. The fourth phase, coming to closure, presents a dynamic learning opportunity to reflect on and process their learning, regardless of whether or not a mentoring relationship has been positive.
