• Flash Mentoring

    Providing a valuable learning opportunity while requiring a limited commitment of time and resources

Flash Mentoring

Flash mentoring is a low cost and simple option to provide a mentoring relationship without investing a lot of time. It is becoming more popular as it provides a low-pressure mentoring environment that allows the mentee to achieve a short-term objective. The only requirement is one-hour or less of a mentor’s time to meet with a Mentee. During the one-hour session, Mentors can share lessons learned, life experiences and advice to aspiring Mentees. After this meeting, Mentors and Mentees can decide if they would like to continue the relationship.

There are specific instances where flash mentoring is extremely beneficial.

  • To gain advice and support for a particular learning activity.
  • To better understand best practices within  a specific role.
  • To get an external perspective on a single issue.
  • For career development advice.

Mentee

Prior to Your Flash Mentoring Session:

  • Assess and clarify your goals for participating in the flash mentoring session.
  • Send an email to your mentor with a short list of proposed topics for discussion during the session. Be specific with the mentor about what you hope to accomplish to ensure the conversation is focused.
  • Arrange a time and place for the session that is convenient for both you and the mentor.
  • Consider preparing specific questions that you would like to pose to the mentor.

During Your Flash Mentoring Session:

  • Be willing to learn and receptive to new ideas.
  • Openly share your ideas, goals and challenges.
  • Ask direct questions.
  • Seek resources for learning and continuous improvement.
  • Close the meeting with a proposed plan of action for your next steps.

After Your Flash Mentoring Session:

  • Follow through on any agreements or offers made between you and the mentor.
  • Hold in confidence the information given and received between you and the mentor.
  • Remember to thank your mentor and share feedback on how the conversation helped you.

Mentor

Prior to the Flash Mentoring Session:

  • Review the mentee’s proposed objective discussion at the flash mentoring session.

During the Flash Mentoring Session:

  • Encourage your mentee to communicate openly and candidly.
  • Use active listening to hear the meaning behind the words.
  • Ask thought-provoking value questions that are open-ended.
  • Draw on your own experience to share insight and knowledge.
  • Share challenges you have faced and strategies you have used in similar situation.
  • Assist the mentee in focusing on action strategies to handle job challenges and identify options for continuous improvement.
  • Provide constructive feedback and advice that is specific, descriptive, and non-judgmental.
  • Identify referrals to other people who might be able to assist the mentee with a challenge or opportunity.
  • End the meeting with a proposed plan of action for the mentee.

After the Flash Mentoring Session:

  • Follow through on any agreements or offers made between you and the mentee.
  • Hold in confidence the information given and received between you and the mentee.
  • Express your appreciation to the mentee for what you personally might have gained from the session.

Reverse mentoring places the more senior person as the primary learner and emphasise the experience of the junior person on various topics of strategic and cultural relevance…

Click here to read more about

Reverse Mentoring

© Copyright - Save The Children UK 2021