At a basic level, four components combine to define any mentorship program. It’s important to build a program that fits your organization.
PARTICIPANTS
STYLE
FORMAT
PURPOSE
PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS
Participants are either mentors or mentees. Roles may static or shifting. Executives, supervisors, peers, employees and interns are all examples of potential participants.
STYLE
Programs can be informal and unstructured where participants define the the scope of the relationship. Program can also be formal, where relationships, context, content, time frame and goals are defined by program facilitators.
FORMAT
Your program format should take into consideration the number of potential mentors, mentees and program goals.
PURPOSE
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Participants develop deep relationships as they work across a wide range of development areas
REVERSE
To broaden perspectives across generations younger or less experienced mentors partner with older more experienced mentees.
ASSIMILATION
New employees learn culture norms from tenured mentors to quickly integrate into a new organization.
SITUATIONAL OR SKILL
Programs focuses on specific goals.
LEADERSHIP
Used to prepare high potentials for leadership and executive roles.
CAREER
Employees and interns partner with mentors to establish career goals and action plans. These programs have the added benefit of developing a strong employer brand.
SPEED
Rapid-fire meetings deliver a large number of viewpoints about targeted information to mentees and mentors.
CIRCLE
Participants assume both mentor and mentee roles.
