Dee Kehoe, CPD Director, Engineers Ireland, outlines the benefits of professional mentorship

Knowledge-centric organisations, which essentially all engineering-led operations have to be to remain competitive, have embraced a simple yet powerful development intervention. Top teams in innovative organisations understand that it is no longer enough to expect that an open-door policy and training alone will develop people in a structured, holistic manner. Formal mentoring is a deliberate and effective initiative to improve employees’ ability, engagement and outcomes. Mentoring in organisations is a specific relationship between two individuals based on a mutual desire for learning and development towards organisational objectives. It is a non-reported form of assistance and replaces none of the organisational structures in place. Its functions coalesce around knowledge exchange and behavioural change. In recent years, there has been a demonstrable shift in the understanding by senior teams of the importance of the planning and policy formation stage of mentoring. 

There is no better indicator that an organisation proactively supports and develops its people then by having a formal mentoring programme in place. It requires commitment, time and hands-on support by senior personnel but the benefits to mentees, mentors and the organisation are substantial. 

Engineers Ireland has enabled clients to roll out effective, sustainable programmes through a step-by-step approach as described below:

STEP 1: The very first step in implementing effective mentoring is for the top team to gain absolute clarity about the strategic rationale for the intervention. We assist organisations in gaining this clarity by facilitating a half-day session with top team representatives. The outcome will be the draft content of a mentoring policy with clear programme objectives, linked to organisational strategy.

STEP 2: With this clarity, it is then possible to rapidly align mentoring to your organisation’s goals. Mentors are trained in a manner which makes sense, removing any fuzziness from the concept. Engineers Ireland facilitates an award-winning in-company one-day training workshop for up to 12 mentors, with ample time for role-play, reflection and lessons learned.

STEP 3: Engineers Ireland can return six to twelve months after programme launch to assess outcomes through a blend of online surveys and semi-structured interviews with participants, the outcome of which is a detailed report on the mentoring programme along with recommendations. This holistic approach to mentoring results in numerous benefits for the organisation, mentees and mentors.

For further information, see Effective Mentoring Programme or get in touch directly at cpdemployers@engineersireland.ie.