M is for… Mentoring
Covid-19 has brought many challenges and for many individuals, they may feel stuck in a rut or feeling like they are not developing or progressing. Mentoring can be one way to help combat negative feeling around your career progression.
Just because we are socially distancing and working remotely does not mean that we can’t have meaningful mentoring relationships. In fact, they are probably needed now more than ever. Mentoring provides an opportunity for support and open discussions around your career and career progression.
However, mentoring is not just about career progression. It can also help with support in other areas. For example, mental health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, and social mobility. This is one of the reasons why it is so important that mentoring continues in a remote environment.
Mentoring programmes can and should have a wellness aspect built into them. Mentees should be given advice and guidance on how to maintain a healthy work-life balance and discuss any areas of stress. If you provide a training programme for your mentors you should consider including aspects focusing on mental health and wellbeing as well.
Mentoring can also be a powerful tool for social mobility and diversity and inclusion. This is because it allows businesses to reach individuals who need support, guide and advise them at every stage throughout their career. This can help them feel supported if they ever reach a barrier that is preventing access or slowing them down and most importantly, help them overcome it.