Raising the bar on mentoring
Mentoring Advantage Program is an outsourced mentoring management service.
We offer a unique service as we developed our modus operandi over decades of working as mentors for many different organisations.
We continue in this role with other organisations so we can learn what they are doing right and more importantly, what they are doing wrong.
What have we learnt?
1. Organisations lump mentors and mentees together.
Mentors and mentees are not the same; they have different expectations and different needs. In our programs, we pay attention to the different expectations and needs of both the mentor and the mentee.
Our solution: We tailor sessions to mentors’ needs and other sessions to mentees’ needs.
2. Organisations make assumptions about mentors and mentees.
Mentors and mentees are individual with each person having unique backgrounds, experiences, approaches, hopes, aspirations and goals that belong solely to them.
Our solution: We pay attention to the unique individual whether that is a mentor or mentee.
3. Organisations expect mentors and mentees to sink or swim.
Mentoring is an important milestone in most people’s lives and the relationship that develops is important.
Our solution: We actively support the mentoring relationship. Mentors and mentees know who to call if things aren’t going to plan.
4. Organisations experience ‘no shows’.
The mentee doesn’t arrive for the agreed meeting with the mentor.
Whether it be professionally paid mentoring, a component of a leadership program or in a volunteer capacity, this needs to be addressed, immediately. Given we recommend that the mentee takes the lead in arranging, confirming and following up their mentor meetings, what do you do when the ‘organiser’ doesn’t arrive?
Our solution: We advise the mentor to take an active role in contacting the mentee to reset the time – whether that be for a shorter period, or a phone call – to ensure the momentum continues.
If all else fails, we are available as a sounding board and can be requested to intervene.
When you do meet up, address the matter to understand the occurrence – aim to listen.
5. No time to meet.
Our solution: Arrange to meet online or by phone. We are also experiencing successful relationships occurring online.
Please contact us if you are planning a new mentoring program or wish to improve an existing mentoring program in your organisation.