Mentoring is a key part of helping others to develop. But it can also help you to develop new skills. If you are learning new skills through mentoring a colleague, it can contribute to your CPD. Some ideas on how to demonstrate best practice are set out below.
Examples of how you can gain CPD from mentoring include:
- Researching for, or preparing for a session.
- Conducting a mentoring session, if this is new to you or if you are attempting new techniques.
It is important to consider whether you learned something through the session’s research, preparation or delivery. If you did, it will contribute to your CPD. Keep notes of your research and the session; the person you are mentoring or another colleague could confirm the learning took place.
The skills described below are also applicable to the role of the ACCA Workplace Mentor, another way of gaining CPD in the workplace.
Mentoring is generally done outside of a manager/subordinate role. It usually involves long term development around an individual's career.
It is important to remember that during any mentoring session, the mentor should be asking questions and guiding the learner, rather than telling them what they should be doing. As someone with greater work/life experience you are helping them to develop - not trying to create someone in your own image.
Mentoring relationships work best when both the mentor and the individual receiving mentoring are committed to the relationship and are clear on its aims and limitations.