Now that you’ve launched your goal-driven program and recruited participants, a natural next step is to ensure that your mentor and mentees are engaged and begin fostering their relationship. While building a relationship may come naturally between some mentors and mentees, oftentimes, this may require some encouragement. Mentorships can be mutually beneficial for both mentors and mentees. Being a mentor can be quite intimidating, as mentors may be new to stepping into a leadership role. It can be a great way to give back and a rewarding learning experience for self-development - if the experience is satisfying and successful.
Mentees may be unsure of how to open up to their mentors and feel uncomfortable sharing their goals and failures. Being a mentee can help reveal blindspots, expand connections and set and achieve attainable goals - again if the experience is satisfying and successful.
Ensure that both your participants are maximizing their mentor/mentee relationship within your program by providing confidence, tools to get them started, and skills to set their relationship up for success.
Given that mentorship can be a new concept for some, you will want your mentors and mentees to understand the value that they will derive from the program as well as arm them with resources that will help them nurture their relationship and brush up on their mentorship skills.
Training to enable better Mentor / Mentee relationships
If you do not have the time to offer an in-depth onboarding of your participants or perhaps are looking for an external perspective to emphasize the importance of mentorship, EnPoint offers training for both mentors and mentees.
Whether delivered virtually, live or provided in video format, training is designed to help set your mentors and/or mentees up for relationships that are satisfying and have people coming back for more by helping them:
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Understand what mentorship is (and isn’t) in your program, it’s intended objectives and benefits.
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Learn from and adapt the best practices that will work for them, on how to start and build their mentorship relationships.
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Kickstart their mentorship relationships with tips and sample guides that will allow them to maximize the benefits of mentorship.
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Clearly define roles and expectations within their mentor/mentee relationship.
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Reflect on and generate goals and action plans for their mentorship.
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Consider the life-long value of mentorship to their career journey and professional development.
Foster A Mentorship Mindset
When participants wholly understand the value they could receive from engaging in their relationship and your program, this will reflect in how they feel empowered to participate, amplify their commitment to the program, offer their feedback and nurture their relationships. Our mentor and mentee training ultimately aim to enable a mentorship mindset within your participants. Arming them with the knowledge and skills that they are able to apply for future mentorship opportunities long after the program is over.