Mentoring is a professional relationship in which a colleague (traditionally more senior, but today there are various forms) supports the development of a Mentee by sharing skills, experiences, and perspectives in a dialogue of mutual growth, based on trust and listening. Mentoring is a true tool of development, an evolutionary accelerator for people and companies, which activates a generative exchange of reciprocity: Mentors offer interpretations and propose reflections while simultaneously receiving new ideas and stimuli from the Mentees, thanks to the sharing of experiences and new options.
An increasing number of companies are introducing Mentoring programs, recognizing their strategic value, sometimes running the risk of underestimating some essential aspects for the success of the initiative:
🚫 Careful preparation and sharing of methods and tools – An effective Mentoring program is based on understanding the purposes, responsibilities, relational boundaries, and sharing of best practices and tools. Therefore, preparation that supports Mentors and Mentees in feeling comfortable in these roles and the possibility of receiving supervision in critical passages is necessary.
🚫 Confusion with training interventions on technical subjects – Mentoring is based on the sharing of vision and experience, not aimed at improving teaching technical skills or operational support.
🚫 Lack of clear objectives – Without a defined direction, the journey risks becoming dispersive and ineffective.
🚫 Expectation of immediate solutions – Mentoring is not a shortcut, but a process of learning and growth that requires time and commitment (about 6 months).
🚫 Poorly structured relationship – Without planning and regularity, the necessary conditions for a progression of the path are not guaranteed, such as: an initial warming-up phase, a central moment of experimentation and insight, and a concluding moment to review the learnings.
As Human Value, affiliate of Kienbaum, we have launched and led numerous mentoring programs, preparing over 600 mentors. The feedback received from participants has strengthened our belief in the transformative power of these initiatives. As Kienbaum Italy, we continue to support the widespread adoption of mentoring practices. Together, we strive to sound the ring that resonates with new symphonies of shared knowledge and mutual growth.
To learn more, contact Antonella Severino, Partner at Human Value and Kienbaum Italy.