Something special occurs when two people dedicate time and effort to share ideas with one another in a confidential and open-minded context. Read these guidelines thoroughly before you meet for the first time.
Guidelines for Djøf’s short mentor programmes
- A mentor programme is a personal relationship between a mentor and a mentee arranged by Djøf, in which both participants are Djøf members.
- All mentors are volunteers.
- The programme lasts 3-4 months. You meet on 3 occasions and each session lasts approximately 1-1,5 hours.
- About 3 months after the end of the programme, both parties receive a written evaluation. The purpose of this is to ensure constant development of the mentor programme.
- Djøf does not pay for transport costs, since the mentor programme is voluntary on the part of both mentor and mentee.
As a mentee, you are responsible for:
- contacting the mentor to arrange a time and place for the first session
- following up on the sessions
- turning up to the mentor sessions prepared and setting aside some time between sessions for the necessary thought and processing, so you develop to some extent as a result of the programme
- adapting to your mentor’s time frame and wishes as to where the sessions take place.
As a mentor, you are responsible for:
- Managing the conversation process during the actual session.
The first session
- Use the first session to balance expectations for the programme and get acquainted with each other.
- Prior to the first session, the mentee gives some thought to the goal of the programme and the topics to cover. Examine them together at the first session.
- Discuss the significance of confidentiality in your relationship.
- Agree on the best way of working before, during and after the sessions. For example, the mentee could send an agenda ahead of each session and then a summary.
- Agree on how often to meet, and how to get in contact if sessions have to be moved or cancelled.
- Agree to stay in contact between sessions and how to contact one another (email/SMS/phone).
- After the first meeting, let each other know whether you wish to continue with the mentor programme.
- If one of you unexpectedly wishes to discontinue the programme, you must first inform the other party, and then Djøf.
The ethical rules
- Confidentiality and trust are key to the mentor programme.
- The mentor makes him/herself available as a sounding board/coach and shares his/her time and experience with the mentee.
- The mentee must not use the mentor as a referee for a job application or make use of the mentor’s network.
- Contact Djøf if any problems arise in the mentor relationship, which you cannot deal with yourself.
- You can always stop the discussion of a topic if you as a mentor/mentee deem that ethics, competence or confidentiality are likely to be breached.
- Either party can choose to discontinue the programme at any time. Remember to inform one another and to let Djøf know at dk¤djoef¤mentor.
- Feel free to contact Djøf’s mentor team at dk¤djoef¤mentor for supervision