Take your time in the assessment and design phase of the project. Being thoughtful and intentional in these phases will pay off with a program that better matches your organization’s, mentors’, and mentees’ needs. This is true whether you are designing a program from scratch or revamping an existing program.
Once you know what your mentors and mentees need, you can design mentorship programs that are best suited to satisfy these needs. As you design your program, consider these parameters:
- Determine Who are Your Stakeholders
- Choose the Mentoring Structure
- Determine the Schedule
- Select a Matching System
- Design the Participant Experience
- Set-Up Program Evaluation
We will review options for each of these items so you can build the program that works for the organizational culture and program goals that you chose in the assessment phase.
Use the Program Design Worksheet to help you through the design process.
Start with a Pilot Program
Planning a mentorship program may feel overwhelming. A smaller pilot program is a good way to trial your program design. A pilot is simply running a small test group through the program. Participants are aware that the program is a pilot, and you collect feedback from them before, during, and after the pilot.
This method relieves the pressure of getting it “right” the first time and allows you to try new ideas and adjust course based on feedback from participants. It is a great method for a new program or when you want to try new things. Likely your program will continue to evolve as you gain experience and understand your participant’s needs better.