This is a picture of the most important tool in my mentoring toolbox. Having just completed my first session with Sam, I felt it essential to jot down some notes. As a volunteer mentor this is absolutely not because I’m writing reports, updating databases or feeding back to anyone.
It’s because I wanted to do some homework. I wanted to remember and reflect on what he said. I owe him that. He shared to much with me and I felt totally honoured and trusted to hear his story according to him.
The challenge for me will be to keep it as a mentoring relationship. My natural inclination will be ‘ to’ fix’ everything. And whilst I know the science of a much more empowering relationship, this will still be tough for me.
So the book is my aide memoir. It also contains the open, non-judgmental and restorative questions I want to ask him next time. I’ve done my homework.
So to sum up, it was the most illuminating, humbling, rewarding and challenging thing I have done so far this year.