TRM Mentoring Program
is a voluntary program that allows people to spend time with, and benefit from, the experience and knowledge of someone outside of their current network.
Mentoring is based on developing a reliable, positive and supportive relationship, that encourages people to develop to their fullest potential. What makes a successful mentoring relationship?
Creating and maintaining a close relationship, built on trust.
Short and long-term goals are established.
Clearly defined roles and responsibilities.
Open and supportive communication.
Collaboratively solving problems.
TRM Mentoring Program
is designed to support those working in, were working in, or wanting to work in the Retail industry or Retail associated businesses. This is open to all roles and levels within the industry from CEO to Sales Assistant, from Logistics to Design, or for those who want to join the industry.
M E N T O R
A Mentors role is to act as a “wise counsel” and sounding board for the Mentee. They listen objectively and create the needed space for the Mentee to think.
The Mentor asks good, probing questions that encourage the Mentee to look at issues from a variety of perspectives, but offers the help needed to allow them find their own answers. The Mentor challenges traditional ways of thinking and encourages the Mentee to discover strategies and create plans that maybe outside of their place of comfort.
When the time is right, the Mentor shares examples, (positive and negative), skills and learnings from their own experiences, which assists the Mentee in understanding the basis of where the Mentor’s “counsel” stems from.
A Mentor helps their Mentee set realistic goals and assists them in achieving these. The Mentor holds the Mentee accountable for achieving their goals, and at the same time offers encouragement and constructive feedback in the process.
A mentor must be willing to commit to a minimum of 6 months to support their mentee.
There are many benefits of being a Mentor. Not only will it give you the opportunity to share the knowledge and experience you have spent years developing, it will also give you the opportunity to learn something new yourself.
More importantly, being a Mentor will provide you with such a deep level of personal satisfaction of helping, supporting and offer guidance to someone else.
M E N T E E
A Mentee is someone who has identified a specific goal or challenge that they believe would benefit from the guidance and support of someone to successfully reach these goals. i.e. a Mentor.
A Mentee is still responsible for their own development and has a very strong interest in learning and developing. Before a mentoring relationship can begin, the Mentee must be really clear on what it is they believe the Mentor can help them with, and what it is that they are hoping to get out of the relationship.
It is up to the Mentee to take ownership for the relationship and respect the time and information shared by the Mentor. The Mentee needs to ensure they are committed to the process and in turn, takes responsibility for setting up the meetings and own the actions by the agreed times, between the meetings.
This does not necessarily have to be a formal process for it to be beneficial, as some of the most long-lasting “coaching moments” are conversation that can be had in the moment and may only take a few minutes.
With their Mentor, the Mentee needs to establish the specific goals and objectives for their mentoring relationship, and take full responsibility for taking the agreed action within the agreed time frames.
The Mentee needs to be open and ask specific questions of their mentor, and be open and welcome to receiving responses and feedback graciously.
FAQs
How long will the program go for?
It is envisaged that the program will go for an initial 6 months, with a minimum commitment of connecting in once a month, but it may well go beyond that time frame.
Can I do this program remotely?
Of course! You may find that your Mentee or Mentor lives in a different state or city to yourself, or with social distancing restrictions catching up remotely will be your best option. As the Mentor or Mentee, you will work out your best ways of working, together up front.
How much time will the program take up?
For the Mentor, the minimum time commitment will be approximately an hour a month. This will of course be solely dependent on what you agree to with your Mentee.
For the Mentee, the minimum time commitment with your Mentor will be an hour a month, but based on each of these meetings with your Mentor may produce things for you to work on before the next meeting, which you will also need to commit to doing.
As a Mentor will I get paid?
This is a way for you, as a Mentor, to support someone who will benefit from your experience, wisdom and expertise. Therefore, your payment will be the sheer satisfaction of knowing that you have had a positive influence on someone else.