Creating a mentoring program is a big deal and can be daunting in terms of the impact it’ll have, but not when it comes to the work it takes to launch it.
We also hear a lot of misconceptions about what it takes to run a program. So let’s talk about them, and how, at Mentorloop, we can make it a walk in the park!
Let’s get to it!
The Common Misconception About Mentoring Programs
For the most part, a lot of the fear around starting mentoring programs, or any other endeavour, is based on misconceptions. So let’s understand what those are and do some reassuring myth-busting that will have you breathing a bit easier about the task ahead.
It’s a universally accepted thing that mentoring is a good thing and that there are benefits that come from it. However, a common fear is that the investment in terms of effort, time, and even cost, is too much for what you get out of it. And we get it, you want to be smart about where your time and resources are spent – we all do! But what this made us realise was that most people know mentoring is good, but are unfamiliar with the real extent of the benefits that formal mentoring programs have for mentors, mentees, and the organization as a whole.
We won’t go into all of the benefits that mentoring programs can yield – it will simply take too long. What we will do though is give you a bit of an overview, if you will, of all the ways that mentoring can benefit everyone, from the participants to the organization and society at large.
Benefits for Mentees
- New development opportunities
- Learning soft skills (e.g. communication, leadership, and management skills)
- Increased confidence and empowerment
- A larger and more valuable network
- Accountability
- Real-life applicable advice
- Human connection
- Career development
- Personal development
Benefits for Mentors
- Giving back and paying it forward
- Honing and improving skills
- Revisiting fundamentals and experiences
- Listening to and taking your own advice
- Access to a talent pipeline
- Keeping their finger on the pulse
- Bridging the generational divide
- Becoming an even more valuable asset
- Knowledge sharing
Benefits for Program Coordinators
- Sharpen project management skills
- Gain insight into your organization and its people
- Show your initiative and expertise
- Add value and become valuable
- Stand out, even as a sole contributor
Benefits for the Organization
- Talent attraction
- Recruitment
- Onboarding effectiveness
- Retention
- Building and improving company culture
- Increasing knowledge sharing
- Increasing productivity
- Fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Positive PR
Benefits for Society
- Creates a culture of giving back
- Creates a culture of continuous learning
- Bringing people in from the sidelines
- Create interaction and connection
Learn more about all of these benefits: Mentoring Program Benefits You Don’t Want to Miss
So just from these lists, you can see that mentoring programs aren’t just good, they’re extremely valuable when done right! And when you look at those lists of benefits, it’s clear that any investment in starting and running a mentoring program will be worth it. But we know what you’re thinking – “That’s all well and good but the investment in time, effort, and resources isn’t my only concern. I haven’t done anything like this before!”
We completely understand! Starting can be scary.
When starting a mentoring program, many Program Coordinators (PCs) may have a feeling of being overwhelmed. It is, after all, an initiative that has the potential to affect many people’s lives and can have a lot of things riding on it. PCs may also be apprehensive to start a project that has this kind of impact, as it reflects on them as well — both personally and professionally.
There’s also the question of how much of the time a program like this will take. Is it going to take over their working life? Will they be able to continue to execute their core job responsibilities and ensure the program is a success?
Last but not least, many PCs wonder if they have the necessary experience and skills to execute such an initiative.
The Fear Of The Unknown And How To Conquer It
Starting something new always comes with a sense of uncertainty. However, it’s important to remember that every successful mentoring program was once unfamiliar territory too.
The best way to ease your anxieties about the unknowns of starting and running a mentoring program is to educate yourself and seek guidance. Through learning as much as you can about what you’re about to embark on and knowing that you have support, you can feel reasonably confident in taking the plunge.
Seeking advice from experienced individuals who have successfully implemented mentoring programs can provide valuable insights. They can share best practices, offer guidance on potential challenges, and help you navigate through the initial stages of the program. Their expertise and experience can serve as a guiding light, illuminating the path ahead and easing your apprehensions.
At Mentorloop, we invite our Program Coordinators to be part of an exclusive Mentorloop PC Community where people heroes everywhere can exchange ideas and offer guidance to their fellow mentoring program coordinators. It’s a great way for program admins to support each other and lean from what other successful programs are doing well.
Remember, you don’t have to face the unknown alone; there is support available to make the process smoother and more manageable. By leveraging the knowledge and experiences of others, you can gain the confidence and reassurance needed to conquer your fear of the unknown and embark on a successful mentoring journey.
Hesitations Around Time Investment
A common and very real apprehension many would-be program coordinators have around starting a mentoring program is the time investment. And yes, it can be a lot of work, especially if you do it manually. But if you have mentoring software, the time and effort you spend running your program is significantly reduced!
Not convinced? You don’t have to take it from us. Here are mentoring program coordinators Andrew Corfield and Kate Lloyd from nib to tell you what their day-to-day of running their award-winning mentoring program looks like:
You can learn more about running an award-winning mentoring program from Andrew and Kate by watching the full fireside chat:
Check out how much time you can save by running your mentoring program on Mentorloop:
It’s important to note that the time and effort required for a mentoring program can vary depending on the specific goals and structure of the program. Some mentoring programs may require more resources and commitment, such as regular meetings and training sessions, while others may be more flexible. The key is to tailor the program to the needs and capabilities of the participants, ensuring that it remains a valuable and manageable experience for everyone involved.
How Mentoring Software Helps
Implementing mentoring software can alleviate many concerns about the logistics and management of mentoring programs. These platforms provide a centralized hub that simplifies the matching process, tracks progress, and facilitates feedback collection. By automating administrative tasks, such as scheduling and progress tracking, mentors and mentees can focus on building meaningful relationship.
Another advantage of mentoring software is the ability to gather data and insights for program evaluation. Mentorloop offers analytics and reporting features that allow administrators to track the program’s effectiveness, identify areas for improvement, and measure the impact on participants. This data-driven approach helps organizations continuously refine and optimize their mentoring programs.
Watch this video to learn all about how Mentorloop approaches measuring mentoring program success:
Mentorloop Has Your Back!
Mentorloop is here to hold your hand, and not just when you’re running the program, but from pre-launch through all phases of your journey. Here’s how we can help at every stage:
Planning
We understand how daunting this initiative can be so we’ve put together a whole heap of resources to guide you every step of the way – even as early as your planning stage.
For those getting started for the first time, we recommend these guides:
- The Ultimate Mentoring Program Toolkit
- Our Step-By-Step Guide to Setting Up A Mentoring Program
- A Guide to the 3 Mentoring Program Recruitment Styles
Pre-Launch
It only takes 10 minutes to build a program when you use Mentorloop, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a considered approach. Our Program Builder guides you through setting up your program, from the sign-up form to matching your participants.
What’s more, our Program Themes will guide you on how to build the right program for your organisation’s needs and goals, and will even calibrate matching to suit them.
After your 10-minute setup, you’ll also get access to some demo data so you can familiarise yourself with how Mentorloop helps you out with administrative work. And—best of all—you don’t have to pay a single penny until you’re ready to invite your participants!
Post-Launch
Once you’ve launched your program, you can:
- Join a webinar or workshop: Learn how to best run your program with our mentoring experts and continue to engage your participants.
- Speak to a mentoring expert: They’ll guide you with data from successful programs that have gone before you.
- Take advantage of our momentum management tools
- Participate in a Mentoring Challenge
What’s Next?
The fears and concerns surrounding starting and running a mentoring program are often unfounded.
So, yes. Starting a mentoring program can be daunting, but with a bit of research and some guidance, it can actually be easy and stress-free!
By addressing misconceptions head-on, understanding the benefits, and leveraging mentoring software, organizations can create a supportive and empowering environment for professional growth and development. So let go of your fears, embrace the possibilities, and unlock the potential of mentoring programs in your organization.
Also, your mentoring program can take all of 10 minutes to build when you do it with Mentorloop. And it’s not just the set-up that’s quick to execute, you can actually run your mentoring program with just 30 minutes a week!
