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本帖最后由 大头橙子 于 2009-12-10 16:01 编辑
What makes a mentoring relationship successful?
The key to creating effective mentoring relationships lies in the development of trust between two strangers of different ages.
Establishing communication and developing a relationship can often be difficult processes.
The most critical factor in determining whether matches develop into satisfying and effec-tive relationships characterized by high levels of trust is the approach of the mentor. Men-tors who follow a gradual path in trust-building find that the types of support they can offer, and are accepted, broaden considerably once trust has been established.
Effective mentors are more likely to engage in the following practices:
They see themselves as “friends” rather than teachers or parents, and define their role as supporting the youth in a variety of ways.
They are “active listeners.”
They make a commitment to being consistent and dependable, to maintaining a steady presence in the youth’s life.
They understand that the relationship may seem fairly one-sided—they may feel like they are doing all the work—and they take responsibility for keeping the relationship alive.
For example, early in the relationship, youth often test adults to determine
whether they will actually stick around.
Successful mentors regularly initiate contact and ensure that meetings are scheduled, rather than waiting to hear from youth.
They involve the youth in deciding how the pair will spend their time together.
While youth are often reticent about expressing what they want to do, successful mentors take the time to learn about the youth’s interests and provide them with options for how to spend their time, rather than planning everything without their input.
They pay attention to kids’ need for “fun.” Having fun together is a key part of build-ing relationships, and it also provides youth with valuable opportunities that are otherwise often unavailable to them. |
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