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The Mentor Always Rings Twice

Dick Simmons

Eleven new pairs of 2006-2007 mentors and mentees from Financial Management (FM) began their mentoring relationship by attending an all-day workshop on March 22, 2006 at the Ethnic Cultural Center. The purpose of the workshop was to maximize the potential benefits of FM’s Mentoring Program and was titled “Building Mentoring Relationships: A Mentee\Mentor Workshop”. The matches of mentees and mentors had been done through careful and deliberate consideration by the FM Diversity Team. The workshop was led by Ruth Johnston.

The workshop was highly interactive with the entire group participating in open discussions, as well as each mentor/mentee working together on individual exercises. Topics discussed in the session included the benefits of the program for both mentors and mentees, how to be successful in Financial Management, the benefits of working in Financial Management, and the qualities of a successful mentor.

The individual mentoring pairs worked together to connect the mentees’ plans and goals with an Employee Development Plan (EDP). The session focused on the functions of mentors and the skills needed by them, the role of the supervisor, and the role of the FM Diversity Team as relationship managers.

Ruth had prepared in advance Myers Briggs Personality Types for each group of mentors and mentees. These indicators help to better understand the differences and commonalities between individuals, and would help to facilitate communication and understanding between each mentor and mentee.

The FM Diversity Team thanks Ruth Johnston for conducting the training and the FM Executive Improvement Team for their continued sponsorship and support. The Mentoring Program has been very successful because it provides an opportunity for FM mentees to improve and develop their skills with support and inspiration from FM mentors.