Resource: The Mind Map for reflective observation
The Mind Map is a useful resource for mentors and their mentees because it sets up a structure for and encourages the practice of reflective observation by the mentee. Reflective observation, within the context of mentoring, is allowing the mentee time to reflect on what they are saying, what is being discussed, what options are ahead for them or perhaps what actions are being proposed to be taken by them.
Reflective observation is at the core of mentoring, it invites the mentee to see things in a different light, gives them space to challenge the way of things as they see it or wrap their head around trying things a different way. Mentorship isn’t about “telling” people what to do. The person must have space and time to reflect and filter any information provided to them through their own means of processing.
This is why the mind map moves from the start point of “identify the context” to “make a statement” to “invite a reaction” to “reflection.” It is at the point between “reaction” and “reflection” that the mentor may feel prompted to give guidance. This can be done in multiple ways, by asking open questions “tell me more how you feel/think about that”, “what would you do if you were to go back and do that differently.”
The mind map is particularly useful if you and your mentee have discussed specific objectives of what they want to work through, and this is important context as a mentor which can lead us to how we question and make statements as part of this reflection, things like “can you identify why you feel this way at the moment”, “have you thought of trying it a different way”, “have you ever thought of trying it this way before” etc.
This invites their reaction, which in turn can lead on to your guidance. Their reality + your guidance = an action.
Story telling and providing insight in to your experiences of how you handled a similar situation, as part of “your guidance”, can give the mentee a good means for reflection. Which may in turn lead to the next few phases of the mind map
Their situation + your guidance + reflection = realization or reaction