A formal mentoring program can be very beneficial to an organization if it is utilized correctly. Here are 5 things that a mentoring program manager should consider before developing a program:
- Plan your program before implementing it.
- It is important to know what type of mentoring you are going to offer.
- Decide beforehand if you plan to start with a pilot program.
- Figure out how long you would like your pilot to last, and then decide how long the length of your mentoring program should be.
- Determine who will be the participants.
2. Encourage participation.
- Work with other departments to promote the mentoring program.
- Offer information sessions to help employees understand what mentoring is and what are the benefits.
3. Offer an orientation session before the start of a mentoring program.
- An orientation session helps participants understand what is expected of them.
4. Provide a training session for the pairs prior to the start of a program.
- Make sure to provide goals for each mentor and mentoree.
- Have the mentoring pairs decide what their goals will be.
- Bring in speakers to reinforce the benefits of a mentoring program, as well as other topics relevant to your organization.
5. Conduct ongoing training throughout the program.
- Develop a list of topics used for discussion.
- Always have a guideline for your sessions.
- Administer surveys to find out if the program is successfully on target.
- Bring in speakers to reenergize your participants.