The Mentoring Partnership Agreement or MPA for short is an important part of the early stages of a mentoring partnership. But, many people either don't use an MPA or pay 'lip service' to this document.  Let's take a quick look at how you can use an MPA and why it's important for the success of a mentoring partnership, especially a formal partnership.

Let's also clarify some terminology.  In some literature, you'll see reference to Mentoring Contract. To be blunt - I'm not a fan of the term contract, as most people think this means legally binding.  And, the thing about mentoring is that for 99% of the time, a mentoring partnership is (and should be) a voluntary activity which both the mentee and mentor enter into willingly.  An MPA is there to document the personal and professional agreement that a mentee and mentor make about how they are going to conduct their mentoring partnership and what are the key areas of focus for the mentee.  So in short - ditch the 'contract terminology' - this can actually end up putting people off doing the document at all.

So how do you actually use an MPA?  The MPA should be used at three critical junction points of a mentoring partnership including:

• At the beginning of a partnership - the discussion around the MPA helps to ensure that both the mentee and mentor have shared expectations of the mentoring partnership and that some concrete areas of focus for the mentee have been identified.
• During the middle of the parntership - as a way to monitor your progress, refocus your mentoring conversation or redirect your mentoring objectives.  Using the MPA along the way is a great way to measure the progress of your partnership.
• At the end of a mentoring partnership - as a way to look back at your original vision and to reflect upon and celebrate your achievements.  It's also a way to connect to what's coming up next in the mentee's career and professional development, and perhaps discuss any objectives that you didn't achieve and how the mentee might take these forward in the future.

Where do you get an MPA from?  If you're part of a formal mentoring program, you'll probably be provided with a copy of an MPA template that you and your mentoring partner can use.  Sometimes, you'll also be asked to provide a copy to the Mentoring Program Coordinator.  Don't be too concerned about this request - good Mentoring Program Coordinators should ask for a copy as it helps them to:

• Ensure a minimum standard of conversation at the start of a mentoring partnership (quality assurance)
• Review the collective mentee areas of focus and identify any themes from the objectives - this can then help to schedule relevant support events during the mentoring program (development)
• Support your mentoring partnership if you get 'off track' and need a bit of a helping hand in reconnecting or starting again (support).

If you are not part of a formal mentoring program and don't have access to a template - you can make one up.  Key headings that you could use include:

• Expectations
• Logistics
• Confidentiality
• Goals and Objectives
• Monitoring Progress
• Potential Challenges and Solutions
• General comments.

In summary - if you're about to embark on a mentoring partnership - either formal or informal - do consider the use of an MPA - just to help you both get the most of the mentoring partnership.

Yours in mentoring

Gilly Johnson

Director & Founder, Australian Mentor Centre