SPONSORSHIP AND MENTORING FOR WOMEN
WHY IS IT SO CRUCIAL?
WHAT’S OUR APPROACH?
MENTORING SCHEMES FOR WOMEN
There’s loads of research that supports the benefits of mentoring for women, but we’ve seen it in action. It’s dynamite.
Both mentoring and sponsorship increases productivity, retention, the progression of individuals and creates a positive workplace culture.
There’s a definite need for mentors, our own Millennial research showed that 86% of those that didn’t have access to a mentoring scheme would like a mentor. Disappointingly, of those whose company did have a scheme, 59% didn’t have access.
There is a dichotomy in the workplace in respect of learning and development: 94% of employees would stay at a company longer if it invested in their career yet the number one reason that employees don’t do training is that they don’t have time. A culture that values learning and positively promotes it is key. We believe that a well set up and structured mentoring scheme can provide measurable business impact and create a supportive working environment.
We’re really passionate about the power of mentoring and sponsorship, we’re equally passionate about doing it right.
NURTURING FEMALE TALENT
Often mentoring schemes are set up as a great initiative that is “nice to have” but is ill-thought through. Without the right structure and process mentoring often peters out or is a poor experience for mentor or mentee or at worse for both. Only 1 in 3 mentoring relationships are successful without complete mentor training.
HBR research concludes that promotion to top jobs relies upon sponsorship regardless of gender. In addition, studies show that women’s networks are largely female or mixed (vs Men’s that are predominately male) so access to a sponsor provides the increased visibility that women desperately need.
Sponsorships and mentors in business provide a stronger pipeline of future female talent that companies urgently require.
WHAT DOES THE BIRDSOUP STYLE MENTORING AND SPONSORSHIP LOOK LIKE?
We work with organisations in various industries to set up programmes and train both mentors and mentees to ensure that they know what to expect. Women with a sponsor are twice as likely to believe that reaching the board is attainable, we focus on getting sponsorship right from the outset.
Our programmes are effective, successful, and scalable.
- The benefits of mentoring
- What to expect & the pitfalls
- Questioning & listening techniques
- Communication styles
- Structuring sessions
- Rules of engagement
- Champion: Act as a voice for the protege at key decision-making discussions and champion them for promotions and projects.
- Safety net: Provide a safety net and help build confidence which helps the protege to take risks.
- Visibility: Make introductions to senior leaders or other key stakeholders.
- Feedback: Provide critical and constructive feedback.
