Co-Facilitating Effective Near-Peer Mentoring Circles

Key Principles for Effective Mentoring Circles include

Regular Meetings

Schedule and ATTEND meetings at least monthly if you meet for 2 hours or biweekly if you meet for 1 hour, this is essential to maintain momentum and build strong relationships. 

Nurture Relationships and Trust 

Encourage and model open communication and active listening. Approach problem solving with genuine compassion, an open mind and no judgment. Keep circle conversations confidential! What is shared in the circle stays in the circle!

AskPowerful Coaching Questions 

Instead of rushing to give advice, use open-ended questions to stimulate deeper reflection and self-discovery. For example, instead of saying, "You should do this," ask, "What are some possible solutions you're considering?"

Inclusion & Belonging 

Your circle will likely include participants from diverse departments, backgrounds, ages, and levels of experience. Value and benefit from this amazing diversity of perspectives and ideas! Work actively to make sure that everyone feels safe, welcome and understood. Work actively to overcome unconscious stereotyping and bias, and remember that your continuous effort towards active listening with care will help you understand and relate better with your circle and embrace and celebrate your imagined and real differences.

Structure and Guidelines

Consistent Meeting Structure 

Follow a consistent meeting structure that consists of:

• Positive Affirmations: Start each meeting with a round of positive affirmations.

• Group Work Time: Allocate the majority of the meeting time for members to work on their current problems or challenges.

• Feedback and Support: Encourage members to provide constructive feedback and support to each other.

Avoid Dominating Meetings 

Gently and kindly discourage some individuals from monopolizing the discussion, by inviting others to contribute.

Respect Group Dynamics 

Avoid disrupting established groups without their consent. Ask all the members before inviting a new member to join an existing circle.

Things to Avoid

A “Senior” Lead: 

Avoid designating a “senior” or “guide” in the group. All members should have equal opportunities to contribute and learn. This is the power of peer mentoring and coaching.

Predetermined Topics: 

Allow members to choose their own topics for discussion depending on the problem they are working on and their needs at any given time. 

Inserting Your Own Story in Another’s: 

During Group Work Time, cede the floor completely to the person presenting their problem or issue. Inserting your own story is like stealing precious time and attention reserved for the work time of someone else. Instead, focus on active listening and providing support TO them. Avoid sharing your own experiences unless it will offer a last resort path to a possible solution and you can articulate it very briefly in less than 1 minute. If your story was a source of feelings that could be helped by sharing with the group, consider sharing it at a later time, when it is your OWN turn to work on a problem or issue.

Prescriptive Advice: 

Empower other members! Instead of giving quick advice, offer possible suggestions or alternative perspectives. Encourage members to explore and choose  their own solutions that work for THEM.

Ad Hoc Meetings: 

Stick to a regular meeting schedule (example every other Thursday at 12 PM or every other Monday at 4 PM) to maintain consistency and avoid interruptions. Agree on a new meeting at the start of each new semester and stick with it.