Build a Mentoring Program
Support employees’ career and personal development with a customized mentoring program.
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Contributors
- Doug Lawrence, Founder and President, TalentC
- Doug Rozon, Director of Marketing, The Sun Products Canada Corporation
- Ellen Ensher, Ph.D., Professor of Management, Loyola Marymount University
- Harjot Arora, Manager, Customer Segment Strategy, BMO
- Jaime Kirkland, Training Specialist, Elevations Credit Union
- Jenny Reid, Human Resources Advisor, LEAGUE Financial Partners
- Kathy Kram, Shipley Professor in Management, Boston University School of Management
- Margo Murray, President and Chief Operation Officer, MMHA
- Maxine Sesula, HR Manager, Cutting Edge
- Terri Scandura, Professor of Management, University of Miami
- Different groups of employees have different mentoring needs, making a “peanut butter” approach to mentoring ineffective.
- Traditional mentoring can be a resource intensive process, and often there are more employees looking to be mentored than mentors available.
Our Advice
Critical Insight
- All too often mentoring programs are inaccurately implemented as a solution to a problem. It is important to remember that a mentoring program is simply another learning method that must be applied and customized to the audience at the appropriate time to be impactful.
Impact and Result
- Prior to establishing a mentoring program, take the time to ensure that a mentoring program is the right learning method.
- Identify high-priority employee segments, and create custom mentoring programs tailored to their needs.
- Create the appropriate resources and training to ensure that mentors and mentees are set up for success.
- Evaluate and continuously improve the mentoring program to ensure it drives impact in the organization.
1. Frame the mentoring program
Determine if mentoring is appropriate, then devise mentoring goals and key metrics.
2. Design the mentoring program
Prioritize employee segments and design mentoring programs.
3. Implement the mentoring program
Match mentoring pairs and create mentoring resources.
4. Launch LMS training
Instill learning throughout the organization. Import an interactive eLearning module into your business’ existing learning management system.
Guided Implementations
This guided implementation is a nine call advisory process.
Guided Implementation #1 - Frame the mentoring program
Call #1 - Discuss how to evaluate if mentoring is the right learning method.
Call #2 - Review how to evaluate organizational and employee needs.
Call #3 - Devise mentoring goals.
Guided Implementation #2 - Design the mentoring program
Call #1 - Discuss how to identify and prioritize employee segments.
Call #2 - Review employee segments and four key decisions to create a mentoring program.
Guided Implementation #3 - Implement the mentoring program
Call #1 - Discuss mentor/mentee selection and matching.
Call #2 - Evaluate approach to communicate and review mentoring training resources.
Call #3 - Discuss process to disintegrate dysfunctional mentoring relationships.
Call #4 - Review implementation and communication plan.
Book Your Workshop
Onsite workshops offer an easy way to accelerate your project. If you are unable to do the project yourself, and a Guided Implementation isn't enough, we offer low-cost onsite delivery of our project workshops. We take you through every phase of your project and ensure that you have a roadmap in place to complete your project successfully.
Module 1: Assess and Define Mentoring Program Goals
The Purpose
- Determine if a mentoring program is the right learning method.
- Set goals for the program based on organizational need.
- Select the program type and format best suited for the organization.
Key Benefits Achieved
- Understand how the program will complement employee development and meet an organizational need.
- Define the mentoring program characteristics.
Activities
Outputs
Confirm employee and organizational needs.
- Employee and organizational needs confirmed.
Define problem statement.
- Problem statement defined.
Determine mentoring goals.
- Mentoring goals determined.
Identify and prioritize employee groups.
- Employee groups identified and prioritized.
Design the mentoring program for each employee group.
- Mentoring program for each employee group designed.
Module 2: Build Mentoring Program
The Purpose
- Create tailored programs for employee groups to meet their needs.
- Specify required resources and establish a sourcing strategy.
Key Benefits Achieved
- Evaluate which format is best suited for each employee group.
- Describe who should participate in the program.
- Determine the methodology for matching mentoring partnerships.
Activities
Outputs
(1:5 cont’d): Design the mentoring program for each employee group.
- (1:5 cont’d): Mentoring program for each employee group designed.
Define mentor/mentee criteria.
- Mentor/mentee criteria defined.
Identify mentor participant resource requirements.
- Mentor participant resource requirements identified.
Identify how mentors and mentees will be sourced, selected, and mentored.
- How mentors and mentees will be sourced, selected, and mentored determined.
Module 3: Prepare to Communicate and Launch
The Purpose
- Create a structured flow of communication.
- Create an implementation plan for the mentoring program.
Key Benefits Achieved
- Develop a mentoring resource center.
- Create communication and action plan.
- Launch the program with a manager training session.
Activities
Outputs
Customize supporting program tools (training deck, mentor/mentee checklists).
- Supporting program tools (training deck, mentor/mentee checklists) customized.
Create high-level HR action and communication plan.
- High-level HR action and communication plan created.
