MENTORING: UNSTRUCTURED VS STRUCTURED

Is it structured or unstructured mentoring? Make your choice in the end.

Most people know what mentoring means. At least, the aspect of mentoring, including a mentor guiding and teaching a mentee, is clear. However, the lines begin to blur when it comes to structuring. Questions like “is every anyone that gives me advice and counsel my mentor?” are not uncommon. But, we have formal methods of mentoring within an organized environment. That said, “is one form of mentoring superior to the other?” “does one form of mentoring negate the other?” Is it structured or unstructured mentoring? Make your choice in the end.

Give instruction to wise man and he will be wiser, teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

Proverbs 9:9

UNSTRUCTURED MENTORING

The odds are, this is the form of mentoring with which most people are familiar . Unstructured mentoring is as old as time. People have been in mentoring relationships, even without knowing it. Most people, one way or the other, have someone they go to for advice and guidance. They may not use the ‘mentor-mentee tag, but it does not take anything away from the relationship. In this type of mentoring relationship, pretty much everything is flexible, from the time of meeting to the mode of communication. The parties involved determine the mode of operation. There is no limit to the number of things this form of mentoring can help to achieve. These mentoring relationships usually grow into something closer. They typically last for a long time.

STRUCTURED MENTORING

Structured mentoring is a newcomer into the mentoring world. Before its advent, people had their ways of going about mentoring. Over 71 per cent of Fortune 500 have structured mentoring programs in their workplace. There should be a good reason why. Structured mentoring is an organized form of mentoring. The parties involved are aware of their position in the relationship. The parties also bear their respective titles. In this form of mentoring, it is easier to achieve the goals set for the mentoring relationship. The organization helps both mentor and mentee focus on achieving their goals. There is a set timetable and mode of operation that mentor and mentee(s) must follow.

It is not a matter of saying one form of mentoring is better than the other. What is important is that you find the most suited option for you. Chances are, you would find yourself in each type of mentoring at one point or the other. Maximize whatever mentoring opportunity you find.

Thank you for reading. What form of mentoring do you prefer? Please share with me in the comment box.