Success

In our experience there are a number of factors that can significantly enhance a mentoring program:

• Support and involvement from senior management.
• Promoting the mentoring program with the company as a reward for high performance and loyalty not a remedial intervention.
• Participation is based on selection not self referral.
• CEO or representative from senior management to brief the mentors at the commencement of the program.
• Having a small event to launch and conclude the program.

Evaluation is important and at 12 months our mentoring relationships are reviewed and a report is provided to organisations based on people's feedback. To ensure confidentiality no identifying information is included. Management then makes a decision about who should continue their mentoring. Mentees often have to build a case to support this decision. Many continue to meet informally.

Ideally, mentees become mentors and develop the next generation of people in their organisations.