|
What is the ROI of mentoring? Leaders often ask this to justify the time, energy, and money required to stand up a meaningful mentoring solution.
An abundance of research evidences its impact:
But numbers lack emotion. And because we take action based on emotion, we are hungry to hear the stories behind the numbers. Last week, I witnessed a profound one… I had organized the final celebration of a leadership mentoring program so the mentees could reflect on their experience and acknowledge their mentors. When it was Marianne’s turn to share, she captivated us! Marianne had joined the program because she was feeling stuck in her career. In her words, “I dreamt of returning to nursing school, but my quiet voice was whispering, ‘Maybe it’s too late.’ So, I found myself just standing still.” Then, she was formally matched with Bridget. “My mentor is the kind of person who listens with her whole being. Who asks you the right question at the right time. Who doesn’t just point you toward your potential but walks beside you until you believe in it for yourself.” “Bridget listened and heard me. She didn’t just encourage me to go back to nursing school; she helped me remember why I wanted to become a nurse in the first place.” “She inspired me with her own story, connected me to information, plugged me into the right people, and encouraged me. Her steady belief in me lit a fire I didn’t realize had gone dim.” “She became more than a mentor. She became a guiding force and a beautiful example of the kind of nurse and person I want to be.” Marianne concluded her reflection with: “I’m not just going back to school. I’m walking forward in my path toward leadership with purpose, clarity, and a whole lot of gratitude.” From the surprised look on Bridget’s face, I could tell she was not expecting that. When Bridget and I talked afterwards, I asked her what she did as a mentor that altered the trajectory of Marianne’s life. Bridget reflected, “Honestly, I just listened to her, offered her a few suggestions, identified some potential opportunities, and shared my own story of feeling stuck.” And then Bridget added, “I didn’t think I had done anything out of the ordinary.” But she did. She created a safe, supportive space for Marianne to navigate life and take action. The numbers prove mentoring works. But the stories offer compelling reasons why it works. © 2025. Ann Tardy and MentorLead. www.mentorlead.com. All Rights Reserved. |