ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the stages of transition and the mentor’s role in providing appropriate support for successful change. From seed to sapling and sapling to tree we see the transformation of every arboreal species. The magic of mentoring is a slower, much more subtle alchemy and as such forms part of the process of transition. Transition is an important part of the mentoring process and the mentor’s role in guiding that transition is key to successful change; looking for short cuts may not be the answer. For mentees who can articulate their concerns, one strategy to help effective transition is the ‘itch, question, goal’ technique, which provides a structure for recognising and addressing issues that present at a conscious or subconscious level. Everyone reacts in different ways to change and may not go through all of the stages in the transition curve.
