Member to member mentoring is a great benefit for many members. Members benefit from a well-made match and from a thought out process where each side understands the ground rules and their obligations for making the relationship work. Often mentoring is seen as a match between long-time members and new members, or between past conference attendees and new conference attendees, or between those who have been in the field for years and those new to the profession. But, there are more ways to form mentoring relationships between your members.
Take reverse-mentoring for example. Philip Tedesco, CEO of the Rhode Island Association of Realtors, noticed that when they got the Past Presidents’ Council together with the Young Professionals Network, there was more than just a one-way dialogue. Long-time members may find that new members can add a ton of tangible value to the relationship as well.
I love the idea of reverse mentoring or co-mentoring, where both sides bring all of their knowledge. Long-time members bring the vast experience of having tried a ton of things. They know the profession or industry. They know the connectors. They understand the landscape and the overarching trends. New members can bring value to the relationship too. Many have just graduated from college or earned a certification. They are up to date on the latest rules and regulations and industry insights. New members might be well versed in new technology and new systems.
How can you add even more value for long-time and new members by providing a process and expectations, so each member gets to be both the mentor and the mentee?
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