Core Concept
A successful WBL mentoring process involves structured in-company training, guidance in practical tasks, and ensuring workplace adjustment. Effective mentors, as suggested in the “Training Methodology for Trainers of Mentors in Dual Education” developed by Modern Education Foundation and partners (see the „Explore Further“ section below), monitor progress, provide feedback, and evaluate performance in real work environments. According to the authors, successful mentors possess and develop a certain set of competencies:
- Social competencies like coaching skills, such as listening well, communicating effectively, setting achievable targets, supporting the trainee to achieve them while gaining learning and further insight on the profession.
- Organisational competencies relate to planning, conducting, and evaluating in-company practical training at specific workplaces in the company, as well as compliance with occupational, health, safety, and fire protection regulations.
- Pedagogical competencies mean the mentor is able successfully to transfer knowledge and skills to their trainees.
- Managerial competencies refer to the ability to lead and manage the learning process effectively, while modeling authority and adhering to schedules, company’s policies, strategy, and culture.
- Finally, as a competence comes the attitude of the mentor to apply an individual approach in the work with the mentee.
These competencies align with the concept of coaching: goal-oriented process that empowers individuals to maximize their potential by focusing on personalized guidance (mentor-mentee/trainee), effective communication, goal-setting, knowledge transfer, and fostering professional and personal growth.
In WBL environments coaching and mentoring are two sides of the same coin. The way they complement each other is elaborated in the EMCC Global’s – European Mentoring and Coaching Council’s competency framework. The eight mentoring/coaching competence categories include:
✔ Understanding Self, where self-awareness is used to enhance practice;
✔ Commitment to Self-Development, ensuring continuous professional growth;
✔ Managing the Contract, establishing clear expectations and boundaries;
✔ Building the Relationship, fostering effective connections with clients and sponsors;
✔ Enabling Insight and Learning, guiding clients toward self-discovery;
✔ Outcome and Action Orientation, supporting meaningful change;
✔ Use of Models and Techniques, applying tools to enhance insight; and
✔ Evaluation, assessing effectiveness and promoting a culture of outcome measurement.
We can see that in professional coaching and mentoring contexts, similarly to WBL mentoring, coaching and mentoring are interconnected through their shared focus on personalized guidance, effective communication, and fostering growth. A key takeaway for a successful WBL mentor is to continuously develop their social, organizational, pedagogical, and managerial competencies while applying an individualized approach to empower mentees and support meaningful learning experiences.
Explore further:
To further explore this topic, here are few resources to accompany your curious mind on the subject:
EMCC Global Competence Framework for Mentoring
Professor David Clutterbuck leads a discussion on current trends in coaching and mentoring
Brief overview of the core mentoring skills in this article
PRACTICE:
Exercise 1: Goal setting
There is a difference between just setting a goal and consciously setting a goal, backed up with the skills like self-reflection, being fully present, and active listening. Achieving a goal is a process of materializing one’s intention (S. Stoyanova, “From Goals to Tools”). The goals that move one forward and establish sustainable, positive change are the goals in line with and part of one’s lifelong learning journey. One of the popular models for setting goals is the SMART model. The acronym stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound goals.
Specific: What exactly do you look for, or want?
Measurable: How will you know this is accomplished?
Achievable: Do you have access to the resources needed? Is what you want to accomplish under your control fully or partially?
Relevant: Is this your goal and not someone else’s? How does this goal help you improve and grow?
Time-bound: By when you want to achieve the result? When will you start working on the execution of the goal?
Try the SMART goal setting now with your intention about this WBL Mentoring Journey, empowered by the AI era you live and work in. The way you see it now. Reflect on your mind or even better, by taking notes about each element, answering the support questions.
Exercise 2: Create your own Self-Reflection Exercise for WBL Mentors
Step 1: “Go” to your preferred/available AI chat
(for example, https://gemini.google.com/ or https://chatgpt.com/, any other)
Step 2: Open the dialogue window
Step 3: Put the following prompt (feel free to edit and amend it):
“Create a practical exercise for me, a [work-based learning] mentor, based on the provided handbook excerpt [copy and paste the [Core concept] part [here]. This exercise should guide me in briefly self-assessing my skills (social, organizational, pedagogical, managerial, and attitude) aligned with the coach-mentor framework like the one by EMCC provided above. It should be interactive (self-assessment tool, role-playing) and provide actionable insights easy to implement on how I can better understand mentoring effectiveness, emphasizing individualized approaches, effective communication, and a supportive learning environment.”
Step 4: Adapt the provided exercise and plan time to do it. Reflect, take notes, enjoy.
This material is developed by Svetoslava Stoyanova, MSc, PCC, ICF , New Mindset Coaching & Training (NMCT) as part of the ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN APPRENTICESHIP MENTORING (AI in Mentoring) project. It is published in the Guide for Trainers and Company mentors, our team and partners created.
You can read about the project and its activities in Belgium, Bulgaria, and Spain on the website: https://ai-mentoring.eu
Are you curious to receive and explore the guide in your mentoring work? Let me know in the comments and I will be happy to share it with you soon.