Mentoring programs are designed to promote professional development by linking an employee with a mentor who will focus on the overall development of a mentee. Mentoring is transformational and involves much more than simply acquiring a specific skill or knowledge (which is best accomplished through training or coaching). In productive mentoring relationships, it is often the case that mentors and mentees learn from each other through their discussions.

WHY BE A MENTOR? 

• Opportunity to share knowledge and information that you have accumulated

• Help build talent within the Operations and Laboratory Directorate

• Learn new information and develop your skills, improving your job performance

• Exposure to new perspectives/outlook

• Better appreciation of employee needs outside of line management

WHY BE A MENTEE?

• Get help with career development

• Strengthen institutional knowledge

• Better understanding of Lab culture

• Develop/Improve a specific skill e.g. time management, communication

• Obtain support/advice with a career challenge  e.g. leadership

• Connect with someone you admire/respect

• All employees in the Operations Divisions, Operations Directorate, and Laboratory Directorate are welcome to participate! 

• Mentees must have been employed at the Laboratory for a minimum of six months.

• Mentors must be in good standing and employed at the Laboratory for a minimum of one year.

• Mentors can self-nominate or may be nominated. If nominated, the committee will send an invitation to the nominee asking them if they would like to participate. 

• Participants may enroll for both Mentor and Mentee roles if they choose.

• Mentors will be drawn primarily from the Operations Divisions and Laboratory Directorate but may also come from the Research Areas with whom we have partnered. 

• Participants have the option when they sign up to state whether they prefer a mentor or mentee from within and/or outside their Area or Division. 

• To enroll as a mentor, fill out the mentor enrollment form.

• To enroll as a mentee, fill out the mentee enrollment form. 

• Once a mentor accepts their nomination, their information will be provided to the mentees

• The mentees will review the list of mentors and begin to request 15-minute (maximum) informational interviews with the mentors

• These meetings will help mentees and mentors select match preferences

• The Steering Committee meets to match mentors & mentees based on information collected in the enrollment and preference form

• Mentees will not be paired with their immediate supervisor or work lead

• Only those mentors/mentees that can be successfully matched will participate. Those not matched will be invited to enroll the following year

• Mentees

  • 25 Questions to Ask Your Mentor

  • How to Be Someone People Really Want to Mentor

  • Shifting Gears:  The Mentee in the Driver’s Seat

• Mentors

  • 5 Tips for Setting Mentoring Objectives

  • Coaching vs. Mentoring – 25 Ways they are Different

  • Effective Mentoring Strategies – Say Hello to Mindful Listening

  • Facilitating Mentee-Driven Goal Setting

  • The Best Mentors Ask These 8 Questions

  • From Diamond In The Rough To Shining Star; Becoming The Mentee Everyone Wants

• Both

  • 5 Ways to Save a Mentoring Relationship that has Stalled

  • Begin with the End in Mind:  The Goal Driven Mentoring Relationship

  • Build a Relationship with a Senior Leader You Admire

  • Center for Mentoring Excellence

  • Shifting Gears:  The Mentee in the Driver’s Seat

Contact the steering committee at: opsmentoring@lbl.gov

Steering Committee:

• Mary Barnum - mebarnum@lbl.gov

• Caren Chung - cnchung@lbl.gov

• Maria Maroudas - mmaroudas@lbl.gov

• Meg Rodriguez - mmrodriguez@lbl.gov

• Linda Louie - llouie@lbl.gov

• November 7, 2024: Enrollment forms due

• November 13- December 8: Informational interview period (optional)

• Mid-January: Match notifications sent

• Mid-January: Kick-off training (required for new program participants)

• June/July: Mid-year check-in

• November: Program feedback from current participants