The Essence and Process of Effective Mentoring in the 21st Century: Insights from a MentorNect Mentor

Mentoring is a process of advising people of a particular area or field, it helps the mentee to gain clarity in areas that they may be struggling with. From my perspective, the mentoring process lasts over a specified duration in which a person with less experience in a particular field receives guidance and tailored support from an expert in that field, regardless of the age difference between them. Mentorship has diverse benefits in the areas of personal development, career or business, and entrepreneurship.

Our modern century is characterised by a digital era, which is commonly referred to as the 4th industrial revolution. Technology has seen a remarkable shift from analogue to digital innovations. Without seeing someone in person, technology has made it possible for mentoring to happen regardless of time and space. Digital mentoring has become possible and is a dire necessity, especially in the era of an unprecedented epidemic of Covid-19, that has catalysed the need for physical distancing, remote working, and heightened hygienic practices to curb the spread.

The process of mentoring can be simplified into four main sessions, including an introductory meeting, two mentoring sessions, and then a final session to review the progress made and discuss the way forward.

Introductory Meeting 

During the introductory meeting, both the mentor and mentee introduce themselves and then express their expectations for the sessions. This session will highlight the compatibility of both participants indicating the success of the mentoring programme. They will discover if they have been correctly paired, based on the mentorship requirements of the mentee and the expertise to be offered by the mentor. If they find they are a good fit, then mentorship goals can be set for both the mentee and the mentor. These set goals will steer the subsequent mentoring sessions.

Mentoring Session 1. 

The first session is intended to explain the key area for mentorship and to discuss possible action areas.

Mentoring Session 2. 

The second session is also set to discuss the depth of the actions that have been initiated by the mentee, the progress made, and address the challenges faced.

Review Session – 

This session is intended to review the entire mentoring process, the accomplishments, and the hurdles, followed by key discussions on the way forward.

In the 21st century, digital mentoring is possible through the following means:

1. By phone call
2. By WhatsApp
3. Through Zoom
4. Through emailing

Two people can schedule an appointment via a phone call for a minimum of thirty minutes to discuss the way forward. The mentee can gather ample information from the mentor and discuss a strategy to propel the mentee forward. Technology enables the mentor and mentee to communicate effectively using messaging platforms via email or WhatsApp. A video call is also possible through an app such as Zoom, which allows for uninterrupted discussion. Emailing provides a functional platform for mentees and mentors to communicate and document the processes for future reference.

You can consider accessing free mentorship coaching through MentorNect to experience first-hand digital mentorship at no cost to you.

If Mentoring is something that interests you, have a look at our programmes now and contact us with any questions.

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