I am a mentor in the ASTD San Diego Chapter’s Mentor Program. This is my second year. The amazing thing about this program is how good it can be when the right match is made.
My protégé, as she is called, is F A B U L O U S! Jessica is her name. She works for a running specialty store. I work for a large government contractor. And what do we have in common in the world of learning, you may wonder. Well, let me tell you a lot. And I hope she enjoys the relationship as much as I.
This is how it works. We meet once a month. We review the goals Jessica set the month before and assess how well she met them and what I did to help support those goals. We share examples and magical learning things happen. Informal learning if you like. Then, we evaluate how the accomplished goals lead to next month’s goals. Each of these monthly goals is a step toward one of her three Mentor Program goals. For example, a monthly goal can be to read Ruth Clark’s Developing Technical Training, which leads to her program goal of designing and developing a new e-learning course.
Big deal you might be thinking. But, it really is, for me, quite magical. I like to help. But to be able to transfer my knowledge and experience is moving. To see how these steps help Jessica not only reach her goals but to have an affect on what is happening in her workplace. Powerful stuff.
If you have the opportunity to offer your expertise to someone do it. You will not regret it, if it is a good match.
Does your ASTD chapter (or other organization) offer a mentor program? Why not start one.
