Got a Situation? Get a situational mentor! Presented by Kathy Wentworth Drahosz

1. Got a Situation?Get a situational mentor!Presented by Kathy Wentworth Drahosz

2. What is Situational Mentoring Situational mentors are the right help at the right time and are usually available to help solve a quick problem, uncover a hidden talent or learn a new skill or behavior. Got a situation? Get a situational mentor! --Sue Porter Beffel

3. Got a Situation?

4. Formal Mentoring 2-4 hours per month Formal structure and support system Mentoring training Action plans and agreements Mid and end of program evaluation Situational Mentoring Short-term, situational Right help at the right time Available for developmental activities (networking, shadowing or executive interviews, etc.) Formal vs. Situational

5. Trust that Feeling “When something draws you to a person, trust that feeling. You may be creating a turning point in that person’s life.” Don Shula and Ken Blanchard (1995) Everyone’s a Coach

6. Look for ways to create situational mentoring opportunities: • GovLoop – 3 month relationships • Flash Mentoring • Speed Mentoring Activities (during Mentoring Month) • Mentoring Training Workshops (open to all)

7. Look for ways to involve situational mentors in formal mentoring: • Quarterly forums, brown bag sessions • Speed mentoring event • Create a shadowing component • Informational interview

8. 2010-2011 Active Mentoring Programs 26–33% of our formal mentoring program participants (mentees) have enhanced their formal mentoring partnerships with situational mentors.

9. A situational mentor made a difference! • “Meeting with situational mentors was very enlightening, and ultimately helped me choose a career path to pursue.” • “Setting up 'get to know you' meetings between my mentee and higher levels of management.” • “I met with an astronaut and we talked about careers, goals, and aspirations! • “This was very beneficial. I was able to meet with someone within my field who gave me perspective on the overall vision. S/he was very nice and offered continued mentoring opportunities.” • “I consider myself to have met with a situational mentor with every interview I conducted.”

10. Got a situation? Employee-level mentoring: • Time management • Technical competencies • Relationship management • Public speaking • Multi-tasking • Boundary-spanning • Negotiation and conflict management

11. Got a situation? Manager/supervisory mentoring: • Project management • Relationship management • Negotiation and conflict management • Managing in a turbulent environment • Motivating employees and teams • Performance improvement strategies

12. Preparedness Meets Opportunity • How did you get into your current position? • Would you make the same career choice again? Why or why not? • Describe your current position. What other fields have you worked in over the years? • What are the major challenges that you encounter in your current position? • What advice would you have for someone considering your field or a similar position? • What professional experiences or training opportunities have you had that were helpful? • What do you like best about your present position? Dislike?

13. How to Identify a Situational Mentor • Knowledge • Expertise • Likability factor • Value System

14. Request a Meeting • Once you have clarified your situational mentoring goals… • Set up the first meeting • Provide an agenda • Do some research • Follow up

15. Speed Mentoring • Speed mentoring is a fun and interactive activity that enables employees an opportunity to make a quick connection that may lead to a short or long term mentoring relationship. • In small group discussions (or pairs) encourage participants to introduce themselves and answer a set of consistent questions. Note: Be sure to highlight that this is a timed event and rotate mentors to the next table after 8-10 minutes.

16. You make a difference! The next time a situational mentoring opportunity presents itself… seize the mentoring moment!