HR, legal & training · Short course
Mentoring and Coaching
Supporting another person’s development through guidance, questions and reflective conversations.
The programme
Programme overview
Expanded indicative outline. The subject areas are described below; proposed activities and final delivery requirements are confirmed with Ratomac before booking.
Supporting another person’s development through guidance, questions and reflective conversations.
The programme brings together role clarity, conversation skills, development goals and relationship review. The expanded outline below shows how these areas can be explored through explanation, discussion and the preparation of relevant work products.
A proposed workshop runs through the programme: A developing employee needs support but the mentor keeps giving solutions before understanding the problem. Participants would examine the situation in stages, use the information provided and explain the basis of their decisions. The workshop is fictional and can be adapted when the final training plan is agreed.
Who should attend
Is this programme for you?
This outline is relevant to the following roles. Suitability and any formal entry requirements should be checked for the selected programme.
- Mentors, coaches and managers supporting development.
- Individuals preparing to take on responsibilities in this area.
- Teams seeking a shared approach to the work described in the programme.
Purpose of the learning
Intended learning outcomes
- Agree the purpose, boundaries and expectations of a support relationship.
- Practise questions that help the learner examine options.
- Turn a development goal into actions the learner owns.
- Review a fictional mentoring conversation and identify improvements.
- Combine the module outputs into a reasoned response to the programme’s workplace scenario.
5 learning blocks
Detailed programme outline
01Role clarity
This part of the programme examines role clarity, with attention to different purposes of mentoring and coaching. The practical task connects the subject to the programme’s workplace scenario and gives participants a specific output to discuss.
Topics to explore
- Different purposes of mentoring.
- Coaching.
- Applied work: agree the purpose, boundaries and expectations of a support relationship.
Illustrative practical exercise
Agree the purpose, boundaries and expectations of a support relationship. Explain the information used, identify any assumptions and take part in a review of the proposed approach.
02Conversation skills
This part of the programme examines conversation skills, with attention to listening, questioning and reflection. The practical task connects the subject to the programme’s workplace scenario and gives participants a specific output to discuss.
Topics to explore
- Listening.
- Questioning.
- Reflection.
- Applied work: practise questions that help the learner examine options.
Illustrative practical exercise
Practise questions that help the learner examine options. Explain the information used, identify any assumptions and take part in a review of the proposed approach.
03Development goals
This part of the programme examines development goals, with attention to agreeing actions and practical support. The practical task connects the subject to the programme’s workplace scenario and gives participants a specific output to discuss.
Topics to explore
- Agreeing actions.
- Practical support.
- Applied work: turn a development goal into actions the learner owns.
Illustrative practical exercise
Turn a development goal into actions the learner owns. Explain the information used, identify any assumptions and take part in a review of the proposed approach.
04Relationship review
This part of the programme examines relationship review, with attention to boundaries, feedback and progress. The practical task connects the subject to the programme’s workplace scenario and gives participants a specific output to discuss.
Topics to explore
- Boundaries.
- Feedback.
- Progress.
- Applied work: review a fictional mentoring conversation and identify improvements.
Illustrative practical exercise
Review a fictional mentoring conversation and identify improvements. Explain the information used, identify any assumptions and take part in a review of the proposed approach.
05Integrated workplace workshop
A developing employee needs support but the mentor keeps giving solutions before understanding the problem. The final workshop connects the earlier work rather than treating each topic as an isolated activity.
Topics to explore
- Bring together the outputs from the earlier modules into one coherent response to the scenario.
- Check that the recommendation addresses the original problem and is supported by the information available.
- Identify responsibilities, dependencies and matters that require specialist input or further evidence.
- Present the proposed response and revise it after questions from the facilitator and other participants.
Illustrative practical exercise
Prepare a concise presentation for the fictional organisation. Include the proposed response, the evidence supporting it and the decisions still required. Finish with a reflection on which aspects could be relevant to your own work.
From discussion to application
How the programme could be delivered
The proposed learning approach combines facilitator-led explanation, discussion of the subject areas and guided work on the fictional scenario. Each module produces a practical output that can be reviewed and improved.
Participants can work individually or in small groups to compare interpretations, explain their decisions and identify missing information. Feedback focuses on the connection between the task, the evidence used and the proposed response.
The final workshop brings the module outputs together. Ratomac will confirm the delivery format, learning resources, entry requirements and any formal assessment or certification arrangements for the selected programme.
Discuss your requirements
Dates, duration & arrangements
Contact Ratomac to agree the final programme, duration and delivery format. Include your preferred timing, location and whether the enquiry is for yourself or a team.
Discuss this programme ↗Indicative outline for discussion. The final syllabus is agreed with Ratomac before booking. The expanded learning activities and workplace scenario are original proposals for discussion with Ratomac.