Page 13 - Sponsor Booklet

Mentoring in blue skies
Peer mentoring is an educational relationship. In the blue skies
programme, is one where:

There is mutual trust, respect and valuing.
There are opportunities to share, reflect on and learn from
experiences in a non-judgmental way.

Independence and autonomy are encouraged.
There are clear limits and boundaries.
There is an opportunity to explore alternative views and options.

Interaction helps develop an educative strategy.
An ethical foundation is built and tested.

A useful definition of mentoring is provided by Fletcher (2000, p. 56):
Mentoring means guiding and supporting the [BP] to ease
through difficult transitions; it is about smoothing the way,
enabling, reassuring as well as directing, managing, instructing.
It should unblock ways to change by building self-confidence,
self-esteem and a readiness to act as well as to engage in
ongoing interpersonal relationships.

In other words, a Sponsor as a peer mentor is a role model, a guide, a
supporter and a critical friend. A particularly important part of the
peer mentor role is to help the BP build a strong ethical approach to
their leadership. As such, they offer both philosophical discussion and
psychological support.

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