Leveraging the Power of Virtual Mentorship to Accelerate Learning and Professional Growth
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many aspects of our lives, especially how we work. Millions of people accustomed to the 9-5 life are now working from home. While this shift to remote and hybrid work has benefited leaders, managers, and employees, it has made finding time for professional development more challenging.
Many forward-thinking companies have invested heavily in eLearning and regular classroom training sessions. However, others have been unable to invest in continuous learning due to time constraints, irregular schedules, limited budgets, and other factors.
Fortunately, there is another way professionals at every level can continue to improve their skills and capabilities – virtual mentorship.
Virtual mentors have grown in demand in the post-pandemic digital age as they offer mentees professional guidance and support through the internet instead of in person.
In this post, we’ll dive deeper into virtual mentorship and discuss its key benefits. We’ll also share how you can leverage its power to accelerate learning and professional growth.
What Is Virtual Mentorship?
Virtual mentorship (or mentoring) is a relatively new but straightforward concept. It refers to a standard mentorship program in which experts from different industries, niches, or departments train and advise mentees. The only difference is that the process takes place through virtual communication using channels such as calls, live chat, video conferences, VILT software, or learning management platforms.
Traditional mentorship programs are typically carried out in person. However, during COVID-19, many workplaces have transitioned to remote operations. Consequently, virtual mentoring took off and became the only viable alternative to live mentoring sessions.
Although many companies have returned to “business as usual,” virtual mentorship programs have become incredibly popular due to their benefits.
Key Benefits of Hiring a Virtual Mentor
1. Accessibility
One of the most important benefits of virtual mentorships is accessibility. This innovative method eliminates physical barriers and restrictions by taking the sessions to the digital plane in many cases or environments where in-person training or coaching sessions aren’t possible. As a result, mentors and mentees can interact through digital platforms or channels on demand.
2. Flexibility
Getting expert advice or solutions over the phone, via email, or live chat removes time barriers from the mix. Both parties aren’t confined to meeting at a specific time or location. Therefore, they can schedule and reschedule sessions on a need basis.
3. Convenience
One of the many reasons professionals don’t like corporate training sessions and meetings is the inconvenience. For starters, they have to disrupt their daily routine to attend sessions, leading to delays or overtime. Similarly, L&D teams or managers have to make arrangements for mentoring sessions, which can be time-consuming and costly.
Virtual mentorships solve both these problems and more. Mentees can choose the best time for sessions. At the same time, managers and leaders don’t have to worry about commuting, accommodation, equipment, or other costs since everything is online.
4. Versatility
Mentors share their expertise and experience related to a specific industry or niche and help mentees achieve their professional and personal goals. Whether it’s helping you transition to adopting new tools and technologies, solving internal conflicts, or improving your emotional intelligence, the possibilities are endless with mentorship.
Another benefit virtual mentorships offer is that you don’t have to stick to just one mentor. You can opt for multiple mentors to gain more knowledge, learn new perspectives, and solve different problems.
5. Improved Networking and Relationships
Working with multiple mentors is a great way to increase your network. These experts have connections with professionals in their respective industries or social circles with whom they can connect you for deeper guidance.
At the same time, mentees and mentors are more relaxed since they’re not required to meet in person. This way, both parties can focus on their respective goals – knowledge transfer and learning.
6. Remote Learning
Most people believe that remote work refers to working from home. They’re not wrong, as this is the most common practice. However, the beauty of remote work is that you can work from anywhere as long as you have everything you need to get things done. In other words, there are no location restrictions.
If you think about it, virtual mentorship is quite similar. Yes, the knowledge transfer is done online. However, this doesn’t mean learners or mentors must confine themselves to their homes or workplaces.
They can be on the road stuck in traffic, at a coffee shop, or exploring different cities. A change in scenery or environment can be beneficial for learners. It’s like visiting a museum to learn about history while speaking to a guide on the phone.
How to Leverage the Full Power of Virtual Mentorship – 5 Tips
Although virtual mentorship programs offer flexibility and convenience, among other benefits, you still need a strategy to ensure continuous learning and improved outcomes. Here are 5 valuable tips for leveraging the full power of virtual mentoring:
1. Choose the Right Channels
Mentoring sessions typically comprise discussions and training related to a specific topic, tool, or practice. However, as mentioned above, virtual mentoring sessions are typically done via chat, calls, or video conferences. Therefore, you have to determine which channel works best for you.
Most experts recommend sticking to VILT sessions as many mentors like to use visual elements to explain concepts. Other channels can be used for simpler discussions or follow-ups related to scheduling or task competition.
2. Set a Timeline for Learning
Just because virtual mentoring has an anywhere-anytime model doesn’t mean you shouldn’t create a learning schedule. So, take some time to look at your schedule for the week and create a to-do list with your priorities in descending order. Once you have everything front and center, find the best time for mentoring sessions and discuss it with your mentor.
For instance, you can meet bi-weekly or have shorter daily sessions. You could also opt for hybrid sessions and meet with your mentors at your workplace or other location.
3. Transparent Communication
You must communicate transparently with your mentor to get the most out of your mentoring sessions. Since communication is online, there’s a greater chance of miscommunication and misunderstandings, especially if you use text-based channels for discussions.
Moreover, you need to ensure your mentor understands your goals and what you’re looking to achieve from these sessions. Although this could be straightforward since you’re working with them based on their expertise and experience, it’s better to speak to them freely about your capabilities, professional objectives, and weaknesses.
This way, your mentor can take a more targeted approach to your professional development and focus on specific areas.
4. Be Open to Learning
It’s not uncommon for professionals to close themselves off to learning due to conflicts, ego, lack of time, or other issues. So, to maximize learning, you must put everything aside and listen to your mentors. You don’t have to share the same viewpoints or like their approach. You just have to take advantage of their expertise and experience and apply the new knowledge accordingly.
Most mentors with years of experience can offer invaluable insights you can use to make better decisions. At the very least, they can offer a new perspective or different solution to a pressing problem and act as a secondary brain.
5. Don’t Take Feedback Personally
Mentors aren’t bosses or managers. They must remain objective and unbiased when evaluating your performances and learning outcomes. Therefore, you should always embrace their feedback, especially when you receive a negative one. You can build an even more powerful relationship with them by showing that you are willing to learn and improve further.
Wrapping Up
Having a mentor, be it a physical one or a virtual one, has proven to help individuals with their professional development and career advancement. However, in the modern, more complex business landscape, opting for virtual mentorship programs is a smarter choice due to their additional benefits, such as flexibility and versatility.
No matter which industry, domain, or niche you represent, continuous learning is the only way you can progress. Virtual mentors can help accelerate your journey, spark innovation and ideation, and inspire you to unlock your true potential by acting as your shoulder angel on demand.
So, what are you waiting for? Learn about different virtual mentorship programs in your respective industry or area of industry and get expert advice and guidance right away.
