Mentee and Mentor Eligibility, Roles, and Responsibilities
The target audience for this initial mentoring effort are state floodplain management program managers, state NFIP coordinators and their staff. Eligibility for participating in the program may be expanded as the program matures, the mentor pool increases and/or ASFPM confirms expanded interest in these mentoring services.
Within the ASFPM mentoring framework, a successful mentoring experience requires mentees and mentors to build an effective partnership focused on learning and professional development. To be successful, mentees and mentors are expected to commit time and energy and agree to a plan of action for the partnership. Both participants need to share responsibility for the management and direction of the partnership, complete all of the program steps as outlined in this handbook, and actively engage in the mentoring process. Mentoring program participants may mentor or be mentored throughout their careers as situations change.
Mentees are expected not to use a mentor like a "consultant" or to seek specific solutions or regulatory interpretations that mentors do not have authority to determine.
Mentoring agreements and action plans are used to achieve mutually identified goals and give the mentee and mentor a guide for managing their relationship. Policies, guidelines, monitoring and evaluation tools, benchmark standards and practices, and resources for mentees and mentors are some of the resources ASFPM has created to keep the partnership on track.
Mentees
To be successful, mentees must be motivated and take responsibility for their learning, development and professional growth.
ASFPM mentees are floodplain management practitioners (new or tenured in the field) who commit to learning, development of an effective state floodplain management program, and professional growth. Mentees are those who have recognize a development need and joined the ASFPM mentoring program in search of a mentor based on their unique experience, skills and strengths.
Mentees need to be open to critical feedback, guidance and new approaches suggested by the mentor. The mentee must commit to practice and application of any new skill or ability to ensure that learning occurs.
Mentee Eligibility
- Actively employed as state floodplain manager, state NFIP coordinator or other floodplain management staff at the state level (local and county level staff are not eligible)
- Demonstrated desire and commitment to participate in a mentoring relationship
- Willing to abide by ASFPM Mentoring Program policies and procedures
- Agrees to complete orientation and training as required
- Willing to communicate with the mentor regularly and submit activity logs and program evaluation information
- ASFPM member preferred, but exceptions may be considered (e.g., for a new state NFIP coordinator or state staff)
General Characteristics and Qualifications of Good Mentees
- Desire for improved professional and/or leadership development
- Open and honest in your goals, expectations and concerns.
- Assumes responsibility for acquiring or improving skills, knowledge and abilities – and applying what has been learned to program and professional duties
- Good communication and interpersonal skills; actively listens and questions.
- Contributes to a supportive and trusting environment.
- Willing to accept and act upon constructive feedback
- Achievement oriented
- Meets their commitments and comes prepared to each exchange
- Strong work ethic
Mentee Responsibilities
- Participate in orientation, training and other mentoring activities
- Complete profile registration process on the ASFPM Mentoring Program website
- Commit time and enthusiasm to the relationship
- Establish trust and respect confidentiality
- Identify mentee needs and develop mentoring agreement to set the goals and expectations of the relationship
- Collaborate with mentor to develop action plan to direct activities and actions that will achieve the desired goal(s)
- Use monitoring and evaluation tools to share successes and failures
- Respect the mentor's time and resources
- Actively participate in relationship - specifically, following through on commitments and actions
- Apply new knowledge, skills and practices
Mentors
Mentors must be tenured, credible subject matter experts who are willing to teach and share insight.
Good mentors are essential to mentoring partnerships. An ASFPM mentor is an experienced floodplain manager (i.e., subject matter expert) who is willing to share knowledge while encouraging others to develop effective state floodplain management programs, as well as their own individual professional competency and leadership capabilities. Mentors should be good communicators, committed to the mentoring process, and able to be effective role models. Mentors should act as sounding boards for ideas and challenge mentees to think and analyze their options and issues. Mentors are also resources for information, who can bridge the gap between training and learning. The role of mentors is to share their unique professional perspective.
Mentor Eligibility
- Minimum of five years of practiced floodplain management
- Willing to abide by ASFPM Mentoring Program policies and procedures
- Agrees to complete orientation and training as required
- Willing to communicate with the program manager(s) regularly and submit activity logs and program evaluation information
- CFM preferred, but not required
- ASFPM member preferred, but exceptions may be considered (e.g., due to subject matter expertise)
General Characteristics and Qualifications of Good Mentors
- Credible with and respected by fellow professionals and peers
- Expertise in specific relevant field(s) of knowledge
- Good communication and interpersonal skills
- Possesses confidence, empathy and patience
- Demonstrated record of leadership
- Enjoys helping others and willing to share knowledge
Mentor Responsibilities
- Participate in orientation, training and other mentoring activities
- Complete profile registration process on the ASFPM Mentoring Program website
- Commit time and enthusiasm to the relationship
- Establish trust and respect confidentiality
- Develop mentoring agreement to set the goals and expectations of the relationship
- Help a mentee identify specific goals for program
- Provide professional and leadership development
- Use monitoring and evaluation tools to share successes and failures
- Identify resources and best practices to assist mentees in development of improved state floodplain management programs and professional competencies
- Orient new professionals to their job duties and transfer knowledge on effective practices
- Train and challenge new and experienced professionals to develop and expand skills and knowledge
- Provide constructive and meaningful feedback, guidance and insight
- Serve as a role model