Veteran Mentoring Programs - PowerPoint Presentation

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Veteran Mentoring Programs

Revised

October, 2013Slide2

This Department of Veterans Affairs Training Series on Veteran Mentoring Programs is designed to help employers and Veteran employees understand the benefits to having Veteran mentoring programs in place and the practices that could be implemented to make these programs more successful.

Introduction

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The suggestions in this presentation are being offered in an effort to improve Veteran retention in the workplace. It is understood that not all these practices can be implemented for every organization. Some variation may be required in order to comply with each organization’s policies and procedures.

Introduction

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Veteran mentoring:

Forms a voluntary one-on-one relationship between a junior Veteran employee and a senior mentor (preferably someone with military experience)

Assists the Veteran employee with his or her personal and professional growth in an organization

Focuses on helping the Veteran employee adjust to the civilian workplace culture and reach his or her full potential within the organization

What is Veteran Mentoring?

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Veteran mentoring programs can:

Increase the morale of Veteran employees

Help new Veteran employees understand and adapt to the job and workplace culture

Lead to increased productivity

Lead to career development and increased employee retention

Promote diversity

Why Implement a Veteran Mentoring Program?

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Through serving as a mentor, an individual can:

Enhance leadership and coaching skills

Gain a better awareness and understanding of employees at the lower levels of the organization

Demonstrate expertise and share knowledge

Expand career network and exposure in the organization

Make a difference in a fellow Veteran’s career

Benefits to the Mentor

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Through mentorship, a Veteran mentee can:

Make a smoother transition to the civilian workplace

Gain career development opportunities

Demonstrate strengths and explore potential

Expand career network and exposure in the organization

Build camaraderie with a fellow

Veteran

Benefits to the Veteran Mentee

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A Veteran mentoring program is built on trust and can start in several ways:

A program can be built by Veterans for Veterans, although anyone with the desire can help create the program

Veteran middle management employees can garner support for the program from upper management

Upper management can tap Veterans within the organization with the skills to make it happen

Such a program is voluntary, bringing Veterans together in a trusted and comfortable environment

Developing a Veteran Mentoring Program

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Decide on the goals and objectives

Developing leaders

Assisting junior employees

Increasing employee retention

Develop a business case for why the organization should dedicate the time and resources to the program

Employee growth and engagement

Increased retention/decreased turnover

Change management/guidance & training

Succession planning/leadership development

Developing a Veteran Mentoring Program

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Get support and commitment from top management

Assign a program manager to administer the program

Create a committee to set the goals and objectives of the program

Develop a communications strategy for providing information and updates to mentors and mentees

Website page describing the program & announcing updates

Social media group for sharing news and ideas

Email distribution

Developing a Veteran Mentoring Program

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Develop a marketing and recruiting strategy

Let employees know about the program

Match mentors selectively with mentees based on compatibility of goals, interests, or preferences

Consider using web-based mentoring tools for matching and tracking

Implementing a Veteran Mentoring Program

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Train program participants

Conduct orientation for mentors and mentees

Inform mentors on resources available to Veterans with health or mental health challenges

Develop instruction guides for mentors and mentees that include roles, expectations, topics, and commitments

Implementing a Veteran Mentoring Program

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Support the mentoring relationships

Provide developmental activities such as seminars, networking events, guest speakers

Evaluate when goals have been met and bring closure to mentorships

Broadcast successes that demonstrate the value of the program and give recognition to participants

Implementing a Veteran Mentoring Program

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Both mentor and mentee should:

Communicate and respect each other’s time

Share responsibility for the relationship

Keep an open mind, be flexible, and exchange information

Have sensitivity to differences in race, gender, backgrounds, and experiences

Mentee must take ownership of his or her own career

Foundation for a Successful Mentoring Program

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Mentoring Handbook

. Rep. American Corporate Partners,

n.d.

Web. <http://acp-usa.org/sites/default/files/ACPMentoringHandbookWinter2013.pdf>.How to Build a Mentoring Program: A Mentoring Program Toolkit. Rep. OPM/USPTO Leadership Development Program, 18 Mar. 2010. Web. <http://www.opm.gov/Wiki/uploads/docs/Wiki/OPM/training/Mentoring%20Toolkit%203-18-10.pdf>.

10 Tips for Starting a Successful Mentoring Program

. Rep. Chronus.com,

n.d.

Web. <http://chronus.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/10-Tips-for-Starting-a-Successful-Mentoring-Program.pdf>.

Best Practices: Mentoring

. Rep. United States Office of Personnel Management, Sept. 2008. Web. <http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/training-and-development/career-development/bestpractices-mentoring.pdf>.

Travis,

Eryn

. "What Benefit Does a Company Gain With Mentoring Programs?"

Small Business

. Demand Media,

n.d.

Web. <http://smallbusiness.chron.com/benefit-company-gain-mentoring-programs-20665.html>.

Sources

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