What does good coaching and
mentoring look like?

Below are two illustrative examples of mentoring and coaching. They are not intended to represent any individual, organisation or industry.

Needs Addressing

Excelling

Jordan, a senior carpenter, is mentoring Brooklyn, a new apprentice. However, Jordan rarely finds time to meet with Brooklyn and often cancels their scheduled sessions.
When they do meet, Jordan tends to dominate the conversation, offering advice that is not always relevant to Brooklyn’s interests in carpentry and construction.
Brooklyn feels frustrated and unsupported, and is unsure about their future within the business.

Darcy, a senior manager with over 20 years of experience in quantity surveying, is mentoring Charlie, a contractor from overseas.

Darcy regularly meets with Charlie to discuss their career goals and provides Charlie with valuable insights into the industry. Darcy helps Charlie set long-term career goals and offers advice on developing their skills.
Charlie feels supported and inspired, and has successfully navigated several challenging projects thanks to Darcy’s guidance.

Needs Addressing

Excelling

Taylor, a coach, is working with Riley, a new employee on the building site, on their time management skills.
Taylor often provides generic advice without considering Riley’s unique circumstances.
Taylor doesn’t follow up regularly, and Riley feels left to their own devices.
As a result, Riley struggles to implement any meaningful changes, and their performance remains stagnant. Riley feels discouraged and doubts the effectiveness of the coaching process.

Alex, a skilled coach, is working with Jesse, a building site supervisor, to improve their team communication skills.

Alex schedules regular sessions with Jesse, where he uses active listening to understand Jesse's concerns and challenges.
Alex guides Jesse in setting specific, achievable goals, such as daily stand up toolbox meetings, and helps develop a clear action plan.
Alex provides constructive feedback and encourages Jesse, leading to noticeable improvements in herd wellbeing and productivity. Jesse feels more confident and capable in their role.