Mentorship can happen in many forms.<\/p>\n
It could be a staff member talking shop with a colleague in a different department over coffee or advising a student on their academic options. It might mean inviting a friend to observe a specialized task or talent. Or maybe it\u2019s structured meetings between alumni and students that focus on career goals.<\/p>\n
Whatever it looks like, mentorship is beneficial for both mentees and mentors, says Cathy Baillie, Brock University Learning and Organizational Development Specialist, who is hoping to spread awareness of those benefits this January during National Mentoring Month.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of people think the person receiving the mentoring is the only one who benefits, but the person sharing their experiences also benefits from the mentorship relationship,\u201d she says. \u201cBoth the mentor and mentee grow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Baillie says some advantages for a mentor include leadership skill development; increased self-confidence and self-awareness; strengthening active listening, coaching and feedback skills; growing one\u2019s personal network; and exposure to new and different perspectives.<\/p>\n
Benefits to a mentee include receiving guidance and support; developing networking, goal-setting and self-reflection skills; gaining insight into other industries, roles or experiences; and being encouraged and empowered in personal development.<\/p>\n
Mentorship also serves as a way to give back to a community and creates connection with others, which Baillie says is increasing in importance with many Brock employees, alumni and students working and learning remotely.<\/p>\n
Director of Alumni Engagement Terry Cockerline says mentoring has always been at the heart of the Brock alumni experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur alumni have always been supportive of each other and willing to help students and fellow alumni,\u201d he says. \u201cWe incorporate mentorship informally or formally at all of our alumni events, and we invite alumni to speak to classes, hire co-op students and meet with students and alumni through our Ten Thousand Coffees platform<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Mentorship offers students unique insights into professions and expands their industry knowledge, which can help them make decisions about their careers, says Pauline Dawson, Manager, Campus Career Education.<\/p>\n Students can also benefit from peer-to-peer mentoring, she says.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen students are faced with transition, sometimes they don\u2019t know what questions to ask,\u201d she says. \u201cPeer-to-peer mentoring provides opportunities for senior students to share their stories and talk about personal challenges, successes and triumphs.\u201d<\/p>\n Examples of mentorship opportunities at Brock include:<\/p>\n There are also many opportunities to volunteer as mentors with local organizations, such as:<\/p>\n Brock faculty, librarians, staff, students and alumni are encouraged to reflect on their own experiences with mentorship and consider mentoring in a way that works for them.<\/p>\n For those who have experienced the benefits of having a mentor, consider participating in \u2018Thank Your Mentor Day\u2019 on Sunday, Jan. 30 by posting messages of appreciation on social media with the hashtags #ThankYourMentorDay, #ThankYourMentor, #MentoringAmplifies and\/or #MentoringMonth.<\/p>\n\n
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