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Index To Expert FREE Written Information
© 2008, Barry Sweeny

48 articles on best practices, models and advice! 

Why would Barry give away this much of his expertise and experience?

1. He believes that by reading his articles, you will learn to trust him and appreciate his thoughtful, expert advice.

2. He believes that then he may have earned the  priviledge of being hired to work with you.

PAGE INDEX

• Mentoring Program Best Practices (24)
• Mentoring Best Practices (10)
• Mentor Program Leadership Best Practices (3)
• Mentoring Program Evaluation Best Practices (3)
• Protege Needs Assessment (2)
• The Benefits and Results of Effective Mentoring (5)

Mentoring Program Best Practices

•  Start Here
  •  Vocabulary for Mentoring, Coaching, and Induction 
  •  The Key Program Planning Questions
  •  The Core Mentoring Principles
  •  Frameworks on Which to Build Your Program
  •  The Developmental Mentoring Continuum
  •  The Strategic Mentoring Culture
  •  Mentoring - The "Bridge" for Transfer of Training Into Practice
  •  Why An Effective Mentor is NOT Enough For Some Program Goals
  •  Why You Need a Dual Agenda for Mentoring
  •  Formal or Informal Mentoring?
  •  Full or Part Time Mentors?
  •  Mentoring for Whom?
  •  How Should Mentoring be Configured?
•  Selection and Matching
•  Comparison of Inclusive and Exclusive Selection Approaches
•  Possible Mentor Selection Criteria
•  Example - Staged Selection Criteria and"Safety Checks"
•  Roles and Tasks
  •  The Two Types of Mentoring
  •  Comparison of Mentor and Guide/"Buddy" Roles
  •  A Mentor Job Description, Application, and Contract
  •  Example - Mentoring Tasks Checklist
  •  The Amazing Research on Mentors "Telling" Proteges What to Do to Improve
•  Mentor Training, Support and Recognition
  •  A Suggested 3 Day "High Impact" Mentor Training Agenda
  •  How to Develop a "High Impact" Mentor Training
•  Example - A Plan for the Mentoring Year
•  Using a Mentor "Time and Activity" Log

Mentoring Best Practices

•  The Two Types of Mentoring
•  The Essential Mentoring Strategy - No matter the context, here are the basics
•  Defining the Difference - Mentoring and Coaching
•  Advice to New Mentors
•  Principles of Adult Learning - The basic guide for mentors
•  A Guide to Giving Feed Back for Mentors
•  How Mentors Facilitate the Professional Development of Others
•  Why Keep Mentoring Conversations Confidential?
•  Can Supervisors Mentor People They Supervise? - Why "Yes" and why "No"

Mentor Program Leadership Best Practices

•  The Mentor Program Coordinator's Roles and Tasks
•  The Mentoring of Mentors Process in a "Nutshell"
•  Barry's Personal Experience as a Mentor of Mentors

Mentoring Program Evaluation Best Practices

•  A Model Program Evaluation Process
•  Possible Program Evaluation Research Questions and Assessment Tools
•  Example - Table of Contents for Program Evaluation Report

Protege Needs Assessment

•  A Sample New Manager Needs Assessment - Use to assess needs and inform design of targeted assistance
•  Research Data on Differing Perceptions of New Managers' Needs - Not what you might expect!

The Benefits and Results of Effective Mentoring

•  The Results Produced by Mentoring - The data are in!
•  The Novice to Expert Transition
•  Which Should be the Focus? Retention or Attrition?
•  How to Sustain Your Program Long Term
•  Selling the Benefits of Your Program to Decision Makers