ATD Blog
Mentoring Partnerships: Strengthen Intergenerational Relationships
Fri Feb 28 2014
Content
As a mentor, have you ever thought about being the mentee? Or as the mentee, wondered if someone would think you had something valuable to share?
As a mentor, have you ever thought about being the mentee? Or as the mentee, wondered if someone would think you had something valuable to share?
Content
If your answer is “yes” to either or both questions, then you will be interested in our exciting new mentoring model, the Mentoring Partnership approach, whereby a collaborative relationship is established. In our early intergenerational conversations presentations, we discovered frequent curiosity about who the “other” generations are, and much energy was stimulated by the dialogue. We began to think about how to harness this vitality to benefit individuals and organizations. This led us to consider ideas around collaborative relationships, built on mutual exchange and learning acceptance.
If your answer is “yes” to either or both questions, then you will be interested in our exciting new mentoring model, the Mentoring Partnership approach, whereby a collaborative relationship is established. In our early intergenerational conversations presentations, we discovered frequent curiosity about who the “other” generations are, and much energy was stimulated by the dialogue. We began to think about how to harness this vitality to benefit individuals and organizations. This led us to consider ideas around collaborative relationships, built on mutual exchange and learning acceptance.
Content
The results of our thinking focused on a mentoring model that contained true partnership elements. This relationship involves a “give-and-take style” whereby people feel comfortable to express ideas and suggestions, ask for help, and disagree. It is a connection in which two people see themselves as colleagues bringing compatible learning styles and desired skills, experience, and knowledge to the relationship.
The results of our thinking focused on a mentoring model that contained true partnership elements. This relationship involves a “give-and-take style” whereby people feel comfortable to express ideas and suggestions, ask for help, and disagree. It is a connection in which two people see themselves as colleagues bringing compatible learning styles and desired skills, experience, and knowledge to the relationship.
Content
As stated in our book, Creating A Mentoring Program: Mentoring Partnerships Across the Generations (ASTD Press, April 2014), this model is distinctive because it is intentionally designed to build relationships providing two-way inclusive interactions exchanging insights and expertise. This results in mutual learning benefits for both participants, regardless of generational or workplace status. A mentoring partnership program benefits both the participants and sponsoring organization (a “win-win” relationship).
As stated in our book, Creating A Mentoring Program: Mentoring Partnerships Across the Generations (ASTD Press, April 2014), this model is distinctive because it is intentionally designed to build relationships providing two-way inclusive interactions exchanging insights and expertise. This results in mutual learning benefits for both participants, regardless of generational or workplace status. A mentoring partnership program benefits both the participants and sponsoring organization (a “win-win” relationship).
Content
Individual benefits:
Individual benefits:
Content
Exchange customized desired learning in a one-on-one situation that is convenient in time, place, and method.
Exchange customized desired learning in a one-on-one situation that is convenient in time, place, and method.
Content
Create new and stronger bonding among colleagues.
Create new and stronger bonding among colleagues.
Content
Expand knowledge, insights, and expertise in organizational, personal, and professional arenas.
Expand knowledge, insights, and expertise in organizational, personal, and professional arenas.
Content
Increase professional networks with access to diverse contacts made possible by a mentoring partner.
Increase professional networks with access to diverse contacts made possible by a mentoring partner.
Content
Organization benefits:
Organization benefits:
Content
Engage new talent in establishing trust and identifying with the organization and its culture by building stronger ties and working relationships.
Engage new talent in establishing trust and identifying with the organization and its culture by building stronger ties and working relationships.
Content
Retain involvement of senior-level members while passing on their legacies.
Retain involvement of senior-level members while passing on their legacies.
Content
Sustain engagement and maintain a robust talent pool for leadership and succession planning.
Sustain engagement and maintain a robust talent pool for leadership and succession planning.
Content
Improve communication, understanding, and acceptance among the generations.
Improve communication, understanding, and acceptance among the generations.
Content
What do you think of mentoring as a partnership approach? If it were available to you, what would you like to learn, and what would you like to teach or share? Contact us at [email protected] .
What do you think of mentoring as a partnership approach? If it were available to you, what would you like to learn, and what would you like to teach or share? Contact us at [email protected].