08 Jul 23 The Benefits Of An Online Mentoring Programme

With the rise of technology, online mentoring programmes have become increasingly popular. But you may wonder, does online mentoring have as many benefits as face to face? In what way does online mentoring differ, to offline?

Mentoring is an essential aspect of personal and professional development. It comprises of a relationship between a mentor and a mentee, where the mentor provides guidance, support, and advice to the mentee.

Mentoring can be beneficial in various ways including the possibility of career advancement, skill development, and personal growth.

In this blog, we will discuss the importance of mentoring, the benefits of an online mentoring programme, and the value it can bring.

 

What Is Online, Or Virtual Mentorship?

Online or virtual mentoring is a delivery method that can allow businesses and educational settings to continue to create and nurture meaningful connections with workers or students who are perhaps not working from the office or are studying away from the settings.

Online mentoring can help mentors and mentees feel less isolated – particularly those who are perhaps feeling the effects of working from home fulltime in comparison to pre-covid where most people were working from a professional setting such as an office.

Mentoring can be delivered in many ways such as face to face, online, or a hybrid version – some meetings taking place online, and others face to face.

 

Why Is Mentoring Important?

Mentoring opportunities provide a mentee with an experienced guide who can help them navigate their career path, create goals and overcome challenges. Mentors can provide valuable insights, advice, and feedback that can help mentees develop their skills and improve their performance. Mentoring can also help mentees build their confidence, expand their network, and gain new perspectives.

 

What Are The Benefits of Running an Online Mentoring Programme?

Mentoring is a powerful tool for personal and professional development, and it has been used for centuries to help individuals achieve their goals. Traditionally, mentoring has been delivered face-to-face, but with the rise of technology, online mentoring has become increasingly popular. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits that come from an online mentoring scheme…

 

Flexibility and Accessibility:

One of the most significant benefits of running an online mentoring platform is flexibility and accessibility. Online mentoring allows mentees to connect with their mentors from anywhere in the world, at any time. This means that mentees can fit mentoring into their busy schedules without having to take time off work or travel to a specific location. Online mentoring is also accessible to individuals who may not have access to face-to-face mentoring due to geographical or financial constraints.

Cost-Effectiveness:

Another significant benefit of running an online mentoring platform is cost-effectiveness. Traditional face-to-face mentoring can be expensive, as it often involves travel expenses, venue costs, and other associated expenses. In comparison, online mentoring eliminates these costs, which means that more people can participate in the programme and there are less outgoings.

Increased Diversity:

Online mentoring platforms can also increase diversity and inclusivity. Traditional face-to-face mentoring often involves individuals from the same geographical area or industry. Online mentoring platforms can connect individuals from all over the world, which means that mentees can access a wider range of mentors with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This can help to provide mentees with a broader perspective on their goals and aspirations.

Adaptable Communication:

Online mentoring and the use of online platforms can also enhance communication between mentors and mentees. Online platforms provide a range of communication tools, such as instant messaging, and emails… which means that mentees can communicate with their mentors in a way that suits them best. Where some people may have found it intimidating to have face to face meetings with someone such as a Director in the business, online – they may find a more comfortable way to communicate.

This can help to build stronger relationships between mentors and mentees and can provide mentees with the support and guidance they need to achieve their goals.

Larger Pool of Mentors And Participants:

Making your mentoring programme online may see you benefit from a larger pool of mentors and participants.

When you remove the requirement for face-to-face teachings or meetings, you remove the geographic restrictions and can invite more people to get involved.

Those who have felt restricted and unable to commit to commuting or face to face meetings for more traditional mentoring programmes may now feel encouraged to apply and get involved!

 

What Best Practice and Tips Would You Give For Online Mentoring?

Establish Mentoring Expectations:

As with any mentoring programme – it’s a good idea to establish expectations from the very beginning. Programme administrators will have set goals for the programme which can be communicated from the initial conversations. It may be helpful to discuss with the mentor and mentee both expect from each other during the relationship.

Show Initiative and Enthusiasm:

Out of sight, out of mind? That certainly shouldn’t be the case when it comes to online mentoring. Mentors can send reminders and check in with the mentees at regular intervals to maintain momentum and ensure that the mentoring relationship remains connected despite the online aspect.

Utilise Online Mentoring Tools:

Harness the power of technology to improve the mentoring experience! Using an online mentoring platform such as sfG MentorNet you can benefit from a number of features to make your mentoring experience more streamlined and efficient. With features such as pairing up your calendar to make setting meetings easier, as well as integrations such as Zoom and Teams – these small-time saving aspects keep the management of your programme neat, and tidy.  Users can access communications all in one place, including the option for sending news articles and the ability to build online knowledge libraries, too!

 

What Value Can An Online Mentoring Programme Could Bring?

An online mentoring programme can bring significant value to both mentors and mentees.

For mentors, it provides an opportunity to give back to the community and share their knowledge and experience. Mentors can also learn from their mentees and gain new perspectives.

For mentees, an online mentoring programme can provide access to a wider range of mentors, which means they can find someone who is the best fit for their needs.

Mentees can also benefit from the flexibility and accessibility of online mentoring programmes, which means they can receive guidance and support when they need it most.

 

Conclusion.

In conclusion, running an online mentoring platform can provide a range of benefits over traditional face-to-face mentoring. Online mentoring platforms are more flexible and accessible, cost-effective, efficient, and can increase diversity and inclusivity.

Using an online mentoring platform to facilitate the online mentoring programme can enhance communication, provide better documentation, and increase accountability.

As technology continues to evolve, online mentoring platforms are likely to become even more popular, and it’s important for organisations to consider the benefits of online mentoring when designing their mentoring programmes.

Of course, we are also fully here for those face-to-face programmes, or hybrid models too! Any mentoring is beneficial, and each method brings with it its own positives and potential drawbacks.

If you’re looking for a platform to facilitate your mentoring scheme, reach out the team for a free demonstration of our secure, online, mentoring platform.