For Mentors

Mentorship Roles

Overview

"The mentor role deserves your most careful attention as it is the linchpin in the mentoring relationship and in the mentor program." (Murray & Owen, 1991) p106

Mentoring is essentially a partnership between two people. However this relationship operates in the context of an organization. The context may encourage and facilitate mentoring, or covertly or overtly discourage it. Differences in mentoring roles depend on the organization's concept of partnership, the nature of the profession and related work structures. What is the purpose of the mentorship? When reviewing international literature and common practice in Canada concerning health sciences professional training and education, it is evident that there is no common agreement on the terminology or the precise role and functions attached to the mentorship process. The purpose of your mentor program will determine the roles of the mentors in the program.

In an unstructured or "classical" mentoring situation, the only participants are the mentor and mentee, and the roles and expectations are generally defined within that relationship. In an organized mentor program, roles, responsibilities, goals, objectives and expectations of the mentor and mentee and other participants should be clearly defined, communicated, understood and standardized among and within professions, where possible. Participants in a mentoring program are:

• Mentor

• Mentee

• Organization

• Staff Educator

• Mentoring Program Leader/Coordinator

• Manager

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