Peer Mentoring

WHAT IS PEER MENTORING? Peer mentoring is a is an intentional one-on-one relationship between people who are at the same career stage or age, in which one person has broader experience than the other in a particular domain and can provide support as well as knowledge and skills transfer. The exchange is usually mutual, even if one of the parties begins in the traditional role of mentee, or learner, and the other in the role of mentor. For example, the mentee may start off as the learner, but as the relationship develops s/he usually discovers s/he has something to offer the partner in terms of other experience. The relationship then develops into an environment for co-learning.

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WHY PEER MENTORING?
The main goal of peer mentoring is two-fold. On the one hand, it’s to share job-related knowledge, this means transferring both job-relevant technical knowledge and skills. On the other hand, it’s to provide psychosocial support.

In research across Australia & the UK, for instance, 70% of surveyed employees experience stress and tension due to Corona measures.

22% of employees found it difficult to find a healthy work-life balance. 19% cited loneliness as a factor in their remote working and 17% struggled with collaboration or communication.

The relationship between a peer mentor and their mentee is based on trust and therefore often more personal. The mentee is more likely to share their actual state of mind, concerns, etc. with their mentor than, for instance, with their manager. Having a peer mentor in these challenging times can be what makes the difference to achieve success and maintain or improve well being.