Mentor Resources

Mentoring is a great way to give back while sharing your experience and wisdom. To volunteer as a Mentor with the ASPB Mentorship Program requires time, effort and patience, but it also offers the opportunity to strengthen management, communication and leadership skills, create new support networks with other professionals and pass on your knowledge and skills. Mentoring can also help to increase self-confidence, create opportunities for personal and professional development, identify personal abilities and limitations, create new support networks with other professionals and is an opportunity to contribute to something that is larger than oneself.

Mentors may fulfill many roles when participating in the ASPB Mentorship Program. Mentors may act as teacher, advisor, motivator, coach, role model or referral agent. Requirements may range from providing periodic guidance or career advice, to offering hands on training opportunities for their Protégés. These roles and requirements will vary, depending on the specific needs of the Protégé and each individual partnership. The ASPB program is designed to be flexible to accommodate the individual needs of each partnership.

Mentors should value the development of others, be willing to commit time and energy to the relationship, and be willing to share the knowledge and experience gained during their career. The ideal mentor is supportive, open-minded, respectful and knowledgeable. They enjoy helping others, support the aspirations of the Protégé, encourage them to accept challenges and inspire them to grow. They understand that Protégés are responsible for their own learning and provide constructive, encouraging feedback to help the Protégé meet their learning goals and objectives.

Mentor Responsibilities

Before agreeing to participate in the ASPB Mentorship Program, Mentors should be aware of the following responsibilities:

  • Participate in the 12 month mentoring relationship, as outlined in the Mentoring Contract
  • Act as a resource person for the Protégé
  • Support, encourage, understand and contribute to the Protégé’s ability to meet their goals and objectives
  • Use varied and/or creative teaching strategies to support the Protégé’s learning
  • Ensure a safe, open-minded environment for the Protégé to risk new thoughts, ideas, and behaviours.
  • Monitor and make modifications to the mentoring relationship to improve their learning opportunities, if necessary
  • Provide timely, constructive and meaningful feedback to help the Protégé reflect on his/her own learning.
  • Uphold confidentiality within the mentoring relationship.
  • Conduct themselves according to the ASPB Code of Ethics at all times.

Tips to Help You be a Better Mentor

We all have skills and knowledge that others can benefit from. If you are ready to help others by volunteering with the ASPB Mentorship Program, here are some things you may want to incorporate into your partnership to help make the most of your Mentor experience:

  • Be open and honest with your Protégé
  • Demonstrate to your Protégé that you are consistent, dependable and trustworthy
  • Give your Protégé your undivided attention when you meet with them
  • Provide tasks or actions for the Protégé to complete between meetings
  • Provide examples of your work for the Protégé
  • Suggest resources, books, websites or networks that might benefit your Protégé
  • Introduce your Protégé to others in your network or business and promote your Protégé to others when appropriate
  • Agree what is acceptable to discuss and what is not
  • Maintain confidentiality
  • Establish contact guidelines for the Protégé
  • Be an advisor, not a preacher
  • Maintain a cheerful and positive attitude with your Protégé
  • Never violate the ASPB organizational code of conduct

Once you are ready to volunteer as a Mentor, please go to the Mentorship Program Process web page to register for the program. If you have questions, contact the Mentorship Program Coordinator at mentorship@aspb.ab.ca.