We had Alison Martin, Founder, and Managing Director of Engage Mentoring on The Porch. She joined us to talk about the serious need for mentorships in all sizes and types of organizations. Did you know that by 2030 boomers will have reached retirement age? That means companies need to start thinking about the transfer of knowledge of their senior leaders NOW to ensure future success. Mentoring isn’t a “nice to have” it’s a highly strategic "need to have", and Alison shared quite a few reasons why:

1.  Everyone needs to grow regardless of tenure and experience. The core of mentorship is the successful transfer of knowledge. That can occur at all levels and through all levels - it doesn’t have to be only top-down mentorship.
2. Mentorship training = Emotional intelligence training. When you teach people the specific skills of mentorship, the byproduct is transforming the culture. Not only are the mentees transformed but so are the mentors. This is because they are learning how to listen, how to support, and how to continue to develop their own communication skills as well.
3. Custom growth paths for each person. Every organization has different developmental needs - mentoring is the only program that meets people where they are and lets them take charge of their own developmental plan.
4. Inclusion and belonging. A formalized mentoring program ensures that diverse employees (ethnicity, gender, background, etc.) aren’t passed over simply because senior leaders tend to pick mentees that they have the most in common with. This is how we raise minority voices. 

Enjoy the recording below!