ABSTRACT
Good mentoring requires the optimum application of a specific set of interpersonal communication skills for the benefit of a junior colleague’s development. Out of a wide range of such skills, five are essential:
Skilful questioning is powerful if the mentee generates insight. Simplicity, clarity and openness characterises good questions. Knowledge of semantic types of questions helps enhance mentors’ skill.
Active listening is the learned skill of closely attending to what a mentee says with the intention of understanding. Both conversational and deep active levels of listening are also discussed along with associated skills of dual processing, reflective listening and silence.
Ability to build trust is essential because learning fails under conditions of mistrust. Holding a mentee to account is only possible if trust is gained. Rapport, which is based on the learned skill of empathy, is indicated by matching behaviour.
Self-management is a result of emotional intelligence. Non-directive mentoring is the most important technique.
Giving constructive advice and structured feedback differentiates mentoring from coaching. Mentees, as adult learners, make better progress if they work out problems for themselves. While giving advice is best avoided, it can be given well by understanding a range of feedback skills.
