MBA Connecting

Mentoring Workshop 2011Dr Ann Darwin

Purpose of the workshop Develop a shared understanding of

mentoring at IGSB Decide if you want to participate Explore communication

mediums Kick start the MBA journey Meet learning leaders How to make contact Start conversations

Mentoring – a strategy for success Mentoring has long been regarded as an important

strategy for career success

Studies have shown that mentoring leads to:

- enhanced career advancement

- higher salaries

- leadership success

- personal learning

How many of you have a mentor?

A conversation on mentoring at work

Think about your own mentoring experiences

Pair with another and share your stories and outcomes

Share key ideas with class

Why mentoring at IGSB?

“I have found adjusting to being a student again a great challenge. Mentoring could aid the transition and kick start the successful move to becoming and remaining an MBA student with UniSA”

MBA student at IGSB, 2010

Design of MBA Connecting Conversations with over 300 students in 2010

Trials with new MBA students (including online) in 2011

Length of the formal program is 12 weeks

Blend of face to face and virtual (Mahara)

Formative evaluation

Our Vision

To provide all new MBA students with the opportunity to kick start their learning, with the support of fellow students and learning leaders (mentors)

What the program offers……. An opportunity for new students to

maximise their MBA learning experience

Developing a support network of peers and graduates early in the program

Providing a professional networking forum to enable virtual as well as face to face conversations

Developmental NetworkMentoring Model

While having a mentoris still considered bymany as an importantingredient for careersuccess the classic recipe haspassed its due by date….These days you need a network

Social Networking and Mentoring

People learn from other people through relationships

They want to connect with people when they have something new to learn

They want to connect with people who can guide them to where they want to go

Many of us get locked into networks....so we need to create networks of collaboration so that we can both give and receive

Steps in creating a developmental network

1. Take control of your own personal development

2. Know what you want to develop and learn3. Write down goals 4. Enlist support5. Develop networks 6. Learn to mentor

others

Take control of your own personal development

“In order to fully benefit from an MBA, we believe students have to take control of their own personal development. If they do, they will be far more likely to benefit as both individuals and managers.”

Dainty and Anderson, 2008

Initial questions for reflection In what way do I see myself being

different in the future? What new knowledge and skills do I need

in order to progress? How great is the gap between where I

want to be and where I am now? Which are the most important gaps that

need to be filled?

Enlist support Become a member of MBA Connecting site

Contact a learning leader

Become part of the network

Join a mentoring circle

PEER MENTORING CIRCLES

A mentoring circle is a group of new MBA students with a common purpose, who take active responsibility for developing each other and themselves. Each circle has a learning leader (an MBA graduate) to help kick start the process. Topics are initiated by circle members and may include career, professional and personal issues. The art of mentoring is learned by each member of the circle.

Purpose of mentoring circles Share knowledge and skills with peers tofurther functional and personal capabilities Generate different leadership

perspectives Learn about different organisations and

management styles Develop interpersonal skills Advance careers Give back to others

Group Development Model

Three stages

1 Achieving the task (3 months)

This is the length of our formal mentoring program in which you have the support of an alumni

2 Building the group

3 Developing as individuals

Roles and Responsibilities

Learning leaders

Program coordinator

Mahara coordinator

Circle members

Important qualities for circle members Know what you want and why Show respect for self and others Give and receive constructive

feedback Commit to agreed ground rules Maintain confidentiality Mentor others – consider what you can

offer in return

Communication methods Face to face

The relationships are formed and developed over a period of time by frequent face to face contacts

Virtual

The relationships rely on electronic means as the primary method of communication

Blend of the above

(depending on location and situation)

Virtual mentoring Virtual mentoring – using online platforms

A number of benefits

A number of challenges

Benefits of virtual mentoring Any time Any place Skill development (writing, teamwork,

communication) Time easier to manage Record kept of discussions – aids reflective learning Learning communities

Challenges of virtual mentoring Comfort with IT and access Online communication skills Privacy Training Sustaining

relationships

Your Advisory Board

Look at your Circle members

as your own personal

Advisory Board. They might

also help you to increase your

Networks outside of the Circle.

Assembling supportCurrent key issues

Career planning

Assessing my skills

Life work balance

Improve IT skills

Networking

Understanding culture

People I know

Ruth (boss) Barry (HR) Mary (colleague) Tom (staff member) Gerry (executive) Irene (colleague)

ACTIONS

1. Decide what’s best for you

2. Become a member of MBA Connecting

3. Connect with a learning leader and/or fellow students