Mentoring : Mentoring Programme Testimonials

 

Network HG has been a keen contributor to the scheme for some years both in terms of mentors and mentees. The feedback we have had from mentees has always been very positive. They have all spoken highly of the benefits they have gained from participating which have mainly been to improve their confidence and self esteem.  A notable example is Laura Jones who has gone from strength to strength since completing the programme - recently she was promoted following an organisational restructure. Managers who have participated as mentors have said how rewarding they find the experience and how great it is to be able to pass on experience and give something back. We don't carry out any formal evaluation of the programme although line managers are fully involved in the process, support individuals and monitor their progress at one to ones.  

 

 

A member of our staff was a mentee on the Programme back in the 2008 and she had such a good experience that she approached me about Shepherds Bush Housing Group becoming more formally involved. We wanted to ensure that as many people as possible had the opportunity to progress their careers within the sector and to get advice from seasoned professionals on their career direction.  We thought it was a good opportunity for both mentees and mentors to develop their skills.

 

We have provided mentors for two years and both the mentees that participated have been promoted internally.  They have increased confidence and a greater appetite for personal development than before.

 

I know that both the Mentors have found it hugely rewarding and we are encouraging more people to get involved next year.

 

I was originally advised to apply for the mentoring programme by my CEO, who had previously been a mentor on HDN’s programme. I was a little apprehensive at first. I had been a manager for a number of years but knew I needed a little support to help me solve my ‘where next?’ conundrum. I knew I wanted to progress and move into senior management but I didn’t really understand how to do this or even if I could. I didn’t have a template to work from or the self-belief required.
Mentoring for me has been simply transformational.   In giving me the space and time to network with other professionals, I have had the opportunity to develop my thinking and build some much needed confidence in my own ideas and abilities.

 

‘You only get out of mentoring what you put in’. I now know just how true this is. At my first one to one session with my mentor I was not sure what it would achieve, largely because somewhere inside my head I was too scared to commit to a challenge that I thought was too steep. Once I was clear about what I wanted to achieve, our sessions were thought provoking, challenging and informative.

 

Ultimately, the sessions with my mentor allowed me to have an independent sounding board, some objective feedback and helped me focus on my goals and my future.  The class room sessions were great networking opportunities and provided me with some important tips, ideas and information that I simply wouldn’t have had the time to delve into during a normal working week. Making time for my career development has ultimately paid off. In February of this year I was successful in obtaining a new, more senior role within my organisation.

 

The Housing Diversity Networks’ mentoring programme has helped me break the glass ceiling in my own head and in doing so opened up a whole range of possibilities. I would recommend the programme to anyone wishing to progress their career in housing and housing management.

 

Maybe the only person stopping you..........is you too!

 

I would heartily recommend the Housing Diversity Network (HDN) Mentoring Programme to any staff member looking to overcome barriers for career and personal development and to improve diversity. The HDN programme is quite different to most other forms of training you attend. The HDN programme doesn't just provide an opportunity to participate in a range of useful workshops; it also provides you with the opportunity to share experiences with your peers from other organisations.

 

The other main difference is the chance to experience the mentee / mentor relationship. This relationship is quite different than most other work relationships one might normally encounter. It is completely different to the relationship you have with your line manager and different also to the relationship you have with close friends you may have at work. If you haven't experienced such a relationship before it can take a bit of getting used to and learning to trust in it may take a little while but it is very rewarding.

 

Prior to the first meeting I was slightly anxious but once I'd met my mentor, David we’d gelled quickly. I found the rapport and connection between my Mentor and I hugely fulfilling. The realisation that my mentor saw enough in my abilities to invest his time was a real confidence boost.

 

One of the things I liked about the programme was its flexibility as it could easily accommodate my change in circumstances. This is mainly because the mentee steers the 121 meetings and sets the agenda for each meeting. They were tailored to my needs not the needs of the HDN programme. You will get out of the programme what you put in as you set the pace.

 

The HDN programme was well structured clear and easy to follow. I attended the London group which was really friendly and always discussed and shared experiences at these sessions. The materials from the sessions were always available on the website a few days after the events. 

 

In summary, this programme provides a fantastic way to help you to realise your full potential and believe in yourself.

 

 

All subjects pointed to my objectives and what I wanted to get out of attending this course. also having a mentor for support and guidance was a bonus and helped me achieve my objectives.

The mentoring programme is a great way of giving people the chance to look at where they are and where they want to go. It helps break down the goals you have and give people the skills and confidence to actually see them through, having access to a mentor is an invalubal sound board that everybody should get the oppotunity to use.

My experience with the programme was beyond words. This is the sort of programme which should be encouraged and opportunities given to as many people as possible.

 

 

I found the mentoring experience very worthwhile and enjoyable. As I'm going through an organisational re-structure my Mentor allowed me to explore my options and gain an outside impartial perspective on the situation. The class sessions helped to re-inforce my knowledge, increase my circle of networking contacts and broaden my housing knowledge. I always came away from each session with a useful piece of information that could help me in my current position.

 

I have gained a lot from the mentoring programme. My individual confidence has grown and I feel I know more about myself from the personality tests. 

 

I would recommend the mentoring programme to anyone who feels that, for whatever reason, they have reached an impasse in their career path.

 

I found the whole experience very interesting, educational and inspiring and believe that the tools handed to me by both my mentor and the various people that took each session will be invaluable in me achieving my goals in the workplace and in my personal life.

 

It has really provided me with a direction in my career and helped build my confidence in my abilities. My mentor has been a great source of positive encouragement and has provided so much support – especially during this time of change, she has been a source of stability. By going out of my normal place of work, it provided the opportunity to reflect and get a perspective of my place in the ‘bigger scheme of things’. The classes were a great opportunity to network with people you would not meet and invaluable to sharing good practice. I feel the scheme has made me a more positive, productive and motivated member of staff and would highly recommend it to others.

I did not know what to expect with the mentoring programme, but as sessions progressed it became more interesting and it was great sharing my everyday experiences with other people from different organisations. It has encouraged me to move on and move forward and take stock of my life and the career path I wish to pursue.

 

I have thoroughly enjoyed the whole process; class workshops, one to one sessions and the conference in Birmingham. I can honestly say that I would not have had the courage to apply for my current post if it had not been for my employer promoting the HDN scheme and my Mentors encouragement and support.

 

The experience has been extremely useful and has helped me to focus on my future career and given me more confidence. It has been very useful networking with others in similar roles.

It was an experience I went into without actually being sure of what I was going to achieve, despite having set goals in mind.I can boast of some very positive results after each session that I attended. The speakers were fabulous at bringing the message in such clear and simple terms for me to understand. Peoples experiences at work, some of the problems they encountered and how these were dealt with were such an eye opener. The experience to me is one that prepares you for the wider world, and enables you to stay positive, no matter the circumstance.

I was unsure at first what I may get from this experience being more mature in years. I have had a very positive experience as my approach was that this was an opportunity to see if I was doing what I really wanted and try and understand why I was feeling so unsettled in what is a fantastic job. The group session dealing with belbin etc was very enlightening and I learned quite a bit about myself and how I had changed since doing the test some years ago and going through the results with my mentor was very useful. 

The experience was extremely rewarding. It allowed me to think about me, not my family or work. It gave me the chance to access people from other organisations and see how they go about doing/tackling the challenges of the sector and personal development.

My mentor was always very supportive. She gave me an insight into the 'managers' way of thinking i.e. nothing is personal its just best practice, practical, business etc. She also gave me ideas on how to turn a negative experiences into postive outcomes for myself -'turn things around' and how it can work for me. My mentor was very friendly and approachable and she made me feel very comfortable in our sessions together.

My mentor has helped me greatly in building my confidence and given me a sounding board outside of my organisation to reflect on my career, my working relationships and overcoming barriers to progression. Sometimes its hard to see the wood for the trees when you are carrying out your role day to day. An honest, confidential sounding board was extremely useful. The group sessions were a good experience, there was a good atmosphere and its nice to know that there are others in a similar position. Eugene made the sessions informative and useful. I liked the fact they were informal and fun. Mentoring group session 3 was the most helpful, particularly the Q and A with Head of HR and Senior Management regarding careers and the job application process.

It was good to have the time to really think about what I wanted from a career.

 

I found the experience an eye opener for me to see how I have been limiting myself and allowing others to do the same in my career. It has enabled me to have direction in my career path and the knowledge to achieve this. It has enriched my spirit and given me renewed energy and determination to make decisions that will allow me to pursue my own chosen path. Maria Carew

I thought that the process was very well thought out and really enjoyable. The group sessions were delivered professionally with a relaxed attitude and I would recommend this programme to anyone who is uncertain of their career.

I have found the programme extremely enjoyable and beneficial to my personal development. My confidence has increased and I feel better prepared to fulfil my role with Muir Group. As a result, I have been asked by another Muir Group manager to act as an internal mentor for a member of her team. I would like to use the skills I have developed during the mentoring sessions last year and during my experience in the both housing and the private sector to help other people progress in this field, as a result I have applied to become a mentor this year.

Great - learned a lot about the background to social housing, confirmed my style for team working and learning, got insights into developing my career using skills I already have, pointed me at areas where my knowledge is weaker, surprised me with the number of contacts I have with diverse skills and experiences, Chance to talk to others in Housing and get insights Opportunity to just sit and think about my work/career.

 

 

 I've always enjoyed being a Mentor on the Programme mentoring groups, individual mentoring and contributing to some of the learning sessions. It’s been well organised with plenty of support available from HDN staff if needed.

 

I am a strong advocate of mentoring as part of overall on-going development. I first got involved when the Programme was COFEM because of my personal commitment to promoting diversity. Recognising the impact of the support of more experienced colleagues as I've gone through my own career, I valued the opportunity of offering this to others as I'd reached a stage where I had valuable experience and learning to share.

 

Everyone has developed in confidence, having greater belief in themselves and recognising that they are worth investing in. Some achieved promotion, others realised they wanted a change of direction, one passed his driving test!

 

I learned loads about organisational development and how this impacts on staff which is really useful in my role. It was a privilege to work with such talented enthusiastic people and it was definitely a mutually beneficial experience.

 

My 1st year mentoring on the Programme went really well. I was impressed with HDN set up for mentees. It took a while initially for things to happen, but at the end of the Programme I felt that there had been a very positive relationship with my mentee and we had made some break through in terms of direction for her future career.

 

My previous mentee had no really idea where she wanted to go, but a desire to change. After going through the course, she felt more positive and more focused on her career path. She also realised the full range of transferable skills she had and more confident to ask her employer to try a new avenue.

 

The Programme was well structured and clear to follow both for mentors and mentees. The log books are useful tool to record conversations, actions and outcomes. The final meeting reviews the experience on both sides. I wanted an opportunity to share knowledge and skills but also to learn from others about their experiences and how their organisations operate and support personal growth. I understand that my mentee enjoyed our sessions, learnt a lot and was able to assimilate policy into his working practice ad make sense of some of the decisions being made.

 

Yes – enjoyed the contact with somebody new and the opportunity to share knowledge. A breath of fresh air!

I very much enjoyed the Programme and found it to be very rewarding. It has re-enforced my thoughts on the benefits of assisting people and as a result I am now doing a Cert of Education to do teaching in the future. (PGCE)

 

Well structured and effective.  The introductory session for mentors was helpful in setting the scene and what was expected of mentors.  The personality profiling was informative and enlightening. I felt it was time to give something back.  There are a number of people who have helped me along the way and I feel it important to share knowledge and experience.

 

My mentee secured a permanent position in his organisation – I think his confidence was boosted – his skills and knowledge were strong anyway.

It was a challenge for me and took me outside of my comfort zone – somewhat.  It was great to be involved in one of the group sessions and meet the mentees as a group – there was a lot of real talent in the room – that was obvious to me.  I was unfortunately unable to participate as a mentor for 2010/11 due to work commitments, but it is something I would definitely be interested in in the future.

Excellent well thought out and structured for both mentee and mentor.

 

Because I wanted to give something back…I have always been fortunate to find informal mentors who have supported me in my career and I wanted to support others to do the same….I enjoy and feel privileged that I am a mentor and feel passionate about ensuring that everyone has a fair and equal chance at making the most of their talent…if I can support people in any small way to develop their confidence to harness their potential then that’s reason enough for me!

 

This is the fourth year that I have taken part in the Programme.  I can’t take credit for any success that they have had as it is only them that can make the changes to develop their career, I am simply a sounding board but yes I have seen confidence grow and people develop both personally and in their career.

 

Yes it has helped me develop my listening and coaching skills.  It has also helped me to understand the barriers people may face out there and that I need ensure I/we as an organisation try to identify and remove as many of these as possible to ensure everyone gets a chance to reach their potential and grow not only personally but also the business.

 

I can see that my mentees have felt supported and taken some real positives out of the relationship and I find the Programme does not impact unduly on the responsibilities of my job

 

To help people acknowledge their strengths and weaknesses (and deal positively with them) in an independent, non-threatening way that can assist them to become a more valued and viable employee and helps them realise their potential quicker. Many people underestimate their skills and focus lots on their weaknesses, whilst some people can’t see their weaknesses at all. Having an independent view on these things helps mentees understand themselves from other’s perspectives and helps them realise what things about themselves they need to promote and what things they need to work on. Also, having to explain your thinking with examples from my own life and career have helped me discover things that I never realised about myself which has made me more self-aware and hopefully a better leader and manager.

 

 

Overall I have found the Programme to be well organised and mentors well matched with mentees. One mentee in particular worked with me re career options and to see them acknowledge skills and knowledge that they did not realise they had and gain confidence in their own skills.  Although not successful in gaining outside promotion, they did receive internal promotion something they would not have applied for without the mentoring session.

 

I can see the difference it can make I am an advocate for promoting mentoring in our Association.  I feel proud of all my mentees because you can see and so can they the journey they have taken.

 Maureen Baker

 

The training programme provided for mentors was very good. Also I have attended some of the classes for the mentees, and they again are very useful. Overall I think the Programme is excellent.

 

All the mentees seems to have gained in confidence, and identified which career path they would like to pursue. It very much feels like you are providing support, and helping them to decide which way they would like to progress, it is an enabling role.

 

As I manage staff, and carry out appraisals and produce staff development plans, the mentoring has helped me with this area of my work. In particular I am much more aware of needing to listen, and help the mentees to reach their own decisions, rather than making suggestions for them. It has been good to be reminded of this, and implement this with my own staff.

I enjoyed the experience and found the process interesting and stimulating. I volunteered to do it to make a contribution to what thought was a worthwhile and important opportunity for staff to develop their potential and also as a learning experience for myself. Impact on mentees varied according to their aspirations for the programme. In one case this was quite functional and I was able to help with providing information, contacts and ideas to help him in his work, with others it was helping them reflect on their own work situation and how they could manage obstacles and challenges to them succeeding. The programme sessions were a springboard for these discussions but a lot of what people wanted was help with the skills and tools to influence up and down. A lot of time was spent on managing small teams and how to get the best from them and from yourself. A lot of it was drawing on my own experience.     Contact - one mentee wanted to meet up every six months or so to use me as a general sounding board which I am fine with. Effect on me  - challenging in that it was necessary to make them use the sessions as they saw fit rather than coach/ direct them too much, which they probably would have preferred, but positive. 

Region: East

The mentoring programme provides a really valuable local network for mentee’s to talk through any work or career issues in a protected environment. The programme is flexible enough to allow mentees to dictate the agenda and get as much as they want out of it. I have given feedback on several work based projects or career opportunities, both in and outside of the regular sessions and have seen mentee’s confidence grow as they have been challenged to act on feedback. I have also encouraged my staff to enrol in the mentoring programme, as many have benefited from the experience and have been supported to arrange additional activities such as job shadowing with their mentor. My only suggestion for change to the programme would be to change the name, we need a description that is far more ambitious!

 

 

I personally feel that I continue to grow as a Mentor and have found this my second year very rewarding indeed. I really enjoyed working with my Mentee and I know from their feedback that they have found the programme beneficial. I look forward to participating in next year's programme.

 

 

It has reminded me to take account of career aspirations for my own team members and how they might wish to plan and pursue their career plans.

Mentor Since 2009

 

 

I feel that I have learnt a lot. The experience of being a mentor this year has been different to previous years in that I have been mentoring someone who was no longer employed and was seeking work, rather than seeking to progress her career. I have consequently had to tailor our mentoring sessions appropriately. I have, however, found mentoring to be a stimulating and energising process, as I have every year, and have thoroughly enjoyed the process. I get great satisfaction from being a mentor and particularly welcome the positive feedback I have had from my mentees, both this year and in previous years.

Region: North West