Paper written by: Abdulhameed O. ZUBAIR
Designing Successful Mentoring Programs: Challenges, Solutions and Outcomes
This is a crucial organizational need in today's business environment. To start with, there is a great need for us to deeply understand 3 basic terminologies that are associated with "mentoring" programs, and they are; Mentoring, Mentors and Mentees. Mentoring is a structured and trusting relationship that brings young people together with caring individuals who offer guidance, support and encouragement aimed at developing the competences and characters of the mentees. Mentor is a senior or experienced person in a company who gives guidance and training to a young colleague. And mentee, somebody who is mentored, usually lower in age, experience and position to his/her montor.
In designing successful mentoring programs, it is important to have the end in mind, that is, knowing why the need for such program. Having this in mind, the organization has a clear cut determination of the accomplishments of the program and its benefits to the participating members- the mentor(s), the mentee(s), and the sponsoring organization, that is, the company. And also design or structure an effective means to the end by identifying what the possible challenges are, proffer solutions to these identified challenges and design an effective feedback system which accurately measures the productivity of the mentoring program.
In putting a successful mentoring program in place, there are lots of challenges that could crop up when designing it, depending of the aims and objectives of the program and kind of industry in which the program is to be applied. Since organizational needs for a successful mentoring program vary across different organizations, this write-up w ...