Mentoring tools

We use a wide range of tools and activities during mentoring circles and as 'homework' activities to consolidate learning and skill development of mentees. Some useful examples of tools include:

Using the fishbone technique to identify goals and tasks

The fishbone technique was developed originally by Professor Kaoru Ishikawa is often used to identify causes of a problem within organisational settings. This tool has been adapted to be used with women to identify the goals they wish to work on over the mentoring sessions. Women identify their end goal and work back to reflect on key activities and sub-tasks (with deadlines attached). This is then used to assist women to track progress on task and goal achievement over the lifecycle of the mentoring programme.

> Download an example of a completed fishbone diagram

Mind mapping

Mind mapping, originally developed by Tony Buzan, is also known as 'spider diagrams' and is used to visually represent ideas, notes and information. Using mind maps in mentoring circles helps women to plan out their goals and ideas regarding their return to work plan and to present this to the group to share ideas and generate questions to prompt self-reflection and creativity.

To draw a mind-map:

• Layout a large sheet of paper in landscape and write a concise heading for the overall theme in the centre of the page e.g. returning to work
• For each major sub-topic or cluster of material, start a new major branch from the central theme, and label it e.g. updating CV
• Each sub-sub-topic forms a subordinate branch to the relevant main branch
• Carry on in this way progressing to as many sub-branches as you need.

> Download an example mind map