The mentoring relationship is a mutual relationship designed to establish and achieve specific well-defined goals.
These goals are connected to developing the ability to know, think, and perform.
The ultimate purpose and design of mentoring is to create a relationship that nurtures learning. One of the key components required to achieve this is responsibility.
When mentored, a learner takes responsibility for the priorities, learning, and resources to achieve a capacity for self-direction. The idea expresses moving “from dependence to independence to interdependence” (3).
A number of elements essential for a learning-centered mentoring program include: reciprocity, learning, relationship, partnership, collaboration, mutually defined goals, and development.
The design is to promote stronger relationships that motivate, inspire, and contribute to development and growth. This relationship is collaborative and channeled to achieve a support system of success. The mutuality in mentoring increases the viability of the desired purpose in the relationship.
For more information on developing mentoring relationships, read Lois Zachary’s book The Mentor’s Guide, Facilitating Effective Learning Relationships.