Cautions about matching and mismatching within a colleagues's zone of proximal reflection

Two cautions must be raised about matching and mismatching. Development varies according to the domain of development. A novice who is conceptually complex may be less mature in ego development (self knowledge). Thus, as the mentor, you will need to be aware of gaps in the beginning teacher's or intern's development and adjust the structure accordingly. Secondly, we now know that as persons make transitions in cognitive development it will probably be a time of high anxiety. During these transitions the mentor or coach should resort to a more structured approach in their work. As the colleague accommodates to the changes, you can return to a less structured, more open-ended approach to supervision.