Introduction
The fast track to personal development is called mentoring. But what exactly is it and how do I find suitable mentors?
Mentoring is a topic-related exchange between experienced and less experienced people. In the world of work in particular, it is, alongside coaching, one of the hottest new personnel development methods in the rapidly changing economic landscape. If we assume that it is used in the course of employee development, then mentoring is the in-service exchange between employees. A distinction is made between internal and cross-mentoring.
Internal mentoring
Internal mentoring refers to the exchange between two employees in the same company. The advantage is that the mentors are familiar with the company and know the company-specific aspects well. This may or may not be an advantage!
Cross-mentoring
In cross-mentoring, mentors and mentees from different companies come together to exchange ideas in a group under the guidance of a moderator. By exchanging ideas within the group, potential conflicts of interest can be avoided. This method is particularly suitable for small companies that want to develop their employees without being able to provide the resources of a large team. In addition, the diversity of the participating companies contributes to gaining valuable new insights into other areas.
Have you acquired a taste for it and would now like to organize a mentoring programme yourself? Then we would like to give you the most important quality features defined by Tinka Beller and Gabriele Hoffmeister-Schönfelder.
The most important criteria for good mentoring programs are
Transparency
Complete transparency in all decisions and processes creates clarity and trust.
Trust
Only those who can trust the discretion and integrity of the mentor can openly ask for help or support.
Voluntariness
Participation must be voluntary for both sides.
Independence
Neither party may be dependent on the decisions of the other.
Define goals
The goal of the mentoring partnership must be clarified in advance, even if the content of the exchange may remain free.
Clear frame
Mentoring does not only have to consist of one-to-one meetings. A mix of different methods is also possible. However, this must be clearly discussed and agreed beforehand.
Quality assurance of the mentors
Mentor is not a protected professional title. Quality assurance must therefore also be a priority for mentors. Regularly exchanging ideas with experts from the coaching sector ensures quality assurance.
We are happy to support you in the creation and development of mentoring programs for your company. We believe that well-trained employees are the backbone of a functioning company and have set ourselves the goal of actively supporting this process.
So don't hesitate and get in touch with us! We look forward to hearing from you!