2.1 The 5 C Model
This model (Pegg, 1999, p. 139) supports a mentee who wants to focus on a particular set of challenges or has a range of options to decide between. The 5 Cs are:
- Challenges – an issue or problem the mentee is currently facing
- Choices – the options available to them for dealing with that issue or problem
- Consequences – the consequences of choosing one option over another
- Creative solutions – other solutions that the mentor and mentee might come up with during their discussion
- Conclusions – a decision about what to do next and a commitment to take action.
Keele University (no date) offers a useful list of the possible questions that a mentor could ask at each stage, including:
Challenges
- Which is the first challenge you would like to explore?
- Can you give me a picture of what is happening?
- What would be a positive outcome?
Choices
- What do you see as the possible options you have for tackling the challenge?
- What have you tried before? What were the consequences?
- What do you think would happen if you did nothing?
Consequences
- What do you see as the pluses and minuses involved in pursuing Option A? B? C?
- How attractive do you find each of these options?
- Take a minute to rate each of the possible solutions (from 1–10) – and to consider why you have given them these ratings.
Creative solutions
- Is it possible to take the best parts from each option and create a new road? How would this look?
- Have you ever been in a similar situation in the past and managed it successfully? What did you do?
- Are there any other people, teams or institutions that have successfully managed this kind of challenge? What did they do to manage it successfully?
- What would you do if you could start all over again tomorrow?
Conclusions
- Let’s explore the option you have chosen – What will be the pluses? What will be the minuses? Bearing these consequences in mind, are you prepared to go ahead?
- What steps must you take to reach your goals/outcomes?
- How can you take these steps? When do you want to begin?
- What can you do to get some early successes?