Mentorship as a contribution to society

Knowledge transfer, individual career development, social interaction and networking – yes, the benefits of a mentorship program for a company are numerous. Recently, however, I realized that these benefits extend beyond the confines of the office.

I have participated in mentorship programs several times, both as a mentee and as a mentor, and in both roles, I have gained a wealth of new knowledge and fresh ideas. As a mentor in our Agitavit UP program, I have made an interesting discovery. I have found that placing knowledge and skills in the broader context of the company or even the environment creates even more motivation and space for learning.

The goal of the mentorship was clear: to support the mentee express his opinion or concerns in internal meetings in front of a larger audience and in conversations with clients. While the mentee’s motivation played a crucial role in his success and progress, it became evident during the process that relying solely on the meeting setting was not enough to overcome the challenge. However, when we linked the skill to practical examples in the context of the entire company and situations in his personal life, the mentee independently found other activities that boosted his confidence and desire to progress.

I always felt it was a success when the mentee challenged me with doubts or questions, as we both learned from that point on. In the case mentioned, I also strengthened my ability to voice opinions or concerns in meetings due to the insights the mentee gained from personal experiences and other sources.

Impact on individual performance

By demonstrating the value of the new knowledge in terms of its relevance to the company and clients, mentorship enables employees to understand their work in a broader context. They understand it not just in relation to a client or project, but in relation to each individual and society as a whole.

To illustrate, here is an example: a worker on an assembly line strengthens his ability to recognize and ensure product quality. If a mentor explains the importance of this skill in terms of its impact on the customer and therefore on the company, it is very likely that the mentee will ask the same questions in other work-related activities, perhaps even outside of work.

With such structured mentorship, a company gives something back to society. It keeps the individual in a state of learning that allows them to mature into meaningful action not only within the company, but also in the wider community. The result of good mentorship can be an increased desire to learn. Mentoring encourages employees who know that they need and want to learn. They are therefore employable individuals who will one day be able to demonstrate their added value in another company or on their own business path. Competent employees who are capable of continuous learning are ultimately what all employers want.