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Leadership and Management Development

Information for mentors

What our mentors think

The mentor training gave me skills and tools that helped me in my own life, as well as being useful for the mentoring sessions. Being a mentor was very rewarding, as I used mentoring skills to facilitate others’ growth.

Mairi Ann Cullen, Senior Research Fellow

Being a mentor was a really rewarding experience, as well as a learning opportunity for me.

HR colleague

Mentoring is a fabulous opportunity to connect with colleagues across the University and it is wonderful to be able to provide support to others to help them achieve their goals

Yvonne Ramskill, Student Recruitment Operations Manager

The Mentoring Scheme is currently paused however colleagues are still encouraged to act as mentors. The resources below provide guidance and good practice in relation to mentoring other colleagues.

 What will I gain from being a mentor?

Most people who are a mentor find that they gain from the experience. Being a mentor is a valuable development opportunity:

  • Satisfaction in helping another person to learn, grow and achieve their goals.
  • Playing a part in building the future of the University.
  • Giving back to the Warwick community.
  • Practising and developing a range of valuable skills.
  • Seeing the world through a different perspective.
  • Developing cross-University relationships.

 What personal qualities should a mentor have?

Attitude
    • A genuine interest in the mentee, their concerns, needs, goals and aspirations.
    • Open – prepared to share their own experience of similar issues, being honest.
    • Empathic – able to appreciate how the mentee thinks, feels and behaves; to understand their ‘view of the world’.
    Skills
        • Good listener – able to focus on what the mentee is saying and put personal thoughts to one side.
        • Motivating and encouraging – to help channel the mentee’s energy into constructive change and overcoming challenges.
        • Able to offer the appropriate balance of challenge, encouragement and support.
        • Able to ask powerful questions whilst being non-directive.
        Knowledge – any of the following:
            • Professional e.g. research, teaching, administration, HR, finance.
            • Subject matter expertise e.g. project management, customer service.
            • Personal or protected characteristic e.g. working parent, carer, disability, minoritised racial identity, LGBT+.
            • Higher Education (HE) sector.
            • University of Warwick e.g. strategy, values, culture, structure, processes.
            • Management or leadership.

            Mentor's Resources: