Anyone tasked with setting up an organisational mentoring scheme from scratch may wonder ‘Where do I start?’ and find their choices somewhat bewildering. But there’s no need to panic, you just need to begin with a plan. Here are a few pointers to consider to get you going.
- Clearly establish the purpose of your scheme – what is it you want to achieve. Understanding the rationale will help you to plan the structure, the most appropriate model, and the practicalities, for example, how it will be administered and by whom.
- What is your marketing strategy? You may have to ‘sell’ the idea to secure resources and funding. Draw up a convincing business case.
- The role of Coordinator. Administering your scheme involves many functions; overseeing it, attracting members, matching dyads, mediating between mentors and mentees, controlling budgets and communicating with stakeholders. It is often an unsung and unappreciated burden but can be key to the success of a scheme.
- How will you find your mentors? What training or guidance will you provide? How will you ensure continued interest and support? A successful scheme can be an organisation’s pride and joy which elevates its reputation. This will attract quality mentors but how will you look after them?
- Assessment and evaluation. This matters, particularly if you have ambitions to grow. Stakeholders often want evidence that their investment is justified so expect to provide statistics to back it up.