The Importance of Group Mentoring and How to Use It

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If you’re reading this, then our guess is that you’re interested in learning more about group mentoring. This method of mentoring is becoming increasingly popular, with more people now recognising the benefits and impact it can have on both organisations and individuals across the globe.

That’s why, throughout this article, we will be exploring the meaning of group mentoring, when it can be used and how you can get started.

What Is Group Mentoring?

Simply put, group mentoring is a method of mentoring where a group of 2 or more individuals come together to help each other develop and achieve their goals. Typically, in this style of mentoring, there are 1-2 mentors and a group of 5+ mentees, who come together regularly as a group to conduct mentoring sessions.

In comparison to the traditional method of mentoring where a mentor and mentee come together to connect on a 1-1 basis, group mentoring allows several individuals to come together to support each other's goals and each member of the session learning from one another experiences and knowledge.

In this style of mentoring, the mentor/mentors will typically be an individual with experience and understanding of a specific topic, with the mentees all having similar development goals or wishes. Group mentoring can also be used in conjunction with other mentoring styles, to create a mentoring experience that meets the goals and objectives of the organisation or individual.

Group mentoring can be characterised by:

• The mentees of the group share a related learning goal - e.g. the mentees learn how to create a great CV or how they can improve their interview skills.

• The mentees are responsible for their own learning, whilst also supporting and sharing their perspective with the other group members.

• Since group mentoring is all about working as a group, each member has to come together at the same time to discuss the same topics outlined by the mentor/mentors.

When Is Group Mentoring Used?

Group mentoring can be used in various ways within both an organisational setting and personal learning development. Since group mentoring allows for fewer resources to be used, it means that multiple mentees can benefit at once, it’s becoming an increasingly popular method used across organisations. In particular, those looking to scale mentoring within the organisation without having to directly increase the number of mentors available. Listed below are examples of how group mentoring can be used:

For Onboarding: Group mentoring is a great choice for organisations looking to onboard new employees, especially when you have 4+ new hires to train. Onboarding is a lengthy and typically expensive process, however, using group mentoring is a great way to train and engage with new employees by introducing them to the organisational culture, introducing them to the software used and allowing them to connect with other employees and build relationships faster.

Upskilling: Group mentoring is a great way to upskill several people, whether they work for an organisation or are using online platforms such as PushFar to connect with others in a group mentoring session. When numerous mentees have a shared upskill goal, the mentor who has experience in this area can share their expertise and experience, helping them gain the skills they need. Group mentoring allows for many employees and individuals to develop at once, which not only reduces the number of resources required, but also makes those who feel uncomfortable with a 1-1 setting, feel more at ease.

Lack of Mentors and Scaling a Mentoring Programme: As mentioned, group mentoring is a great way for those with an organisational mentoring programme already in place to scale it, but lack the resources and mentors to do so. Finding good mentors within your organisation can be challenging, so why give the best ones the task to help develop more mentees at once?

The Benefits of Group Mentoring

Group mentoring is very similar in nature to traditional mentoring, in the way the mentoring sessions are focused on helping the mentee develop both personally and professionally, whilst assisting and supporting them to reach their goals. However, there are some slight differences in the number of participants, the format of the sessions and the reasoning behind mentoring. Whilst there are some small variants, group mentoring possesses some of the same benefits as traditional mentoring, including a few new ones. Here are some examples of how group mentoring can benefit both organisations and individuals:

1. It Helps Develop Leadership Skills

Group mentoring is highly impactful for those looking to develop leadership skills, with both the mentor and mentee being able to develop their skills during group mentoring sessions. For the mentor, they can develop their skills by supporting and training the mentees of the group, having the responsibility to direct each session and gaining more confidence with each one they complete. For the mentee, leadership skills can either be learnt directly from the mentor, or they can gain a first-hand perspective of what it means to be a leader of a group. These sessions also provide the mentees with the opportunity to help other members develop their goals and assist them with their learning.

2. It Maximises the Number of Mentors Within an Organisation

Finding mentors can be tough, but through the use of group mentoring, an organisation can get the most out of the mentors already in place. Group mentoring is used to develop a group of individuals who share a specific goal, which is incredibly beneficial for organisations looking to develop their employees on specific topics and challenges faced by the organisation.

3. It Can Be More Engaging

Whilst mentoring sessions are a fun experience, for some individuals they can feel intimidating. Group mentoring sessions can put individuals at ease with the thought of mentoring, before going on to have a 1-1 mentoring relationship. Individuals can feel more engaged with mentoring when there are multiple members within a session, all sharing their insight and knowledge.

4. New Perspectives

Group mentoring is a great way for individuals to gain new perspectives on different topics. Whilst mentors who are leading group mentoring sessions are typically knowledgeable about their field, no one knows everything about a topic. In group mentoring, several people can share their own perspectives and ideologies on a topic, creating opportunities for new conversations to be held. The different perspectives allow for both the mentors and mentees to gain knowledge and appreciation for fresh viewpoints.

5. Networking

Who doesn’t want to connect with others who have similar goals and interests as themselves? Whilst in traditional mentoring, the mentee only has access to their mentor's network, group mentoring is a great way for individuals to expand and develop their network through the other members of the group. This is particularly useful in cases such as onboarding or in organisations where individuals can connect without feeling intimidated.

6. Creates a Culture That Fosters Community and Learning

Group mentoring can build a community, which is highly advantageous within an organisational setting. Forming a community creates a workplace that feels welcoming and empowered is crucial, with group mentoring also helping form a workplace culture that appreciates and values learning and career progression. When your employees feel their development is an important priority and appreciated, they will feel more motivated and satisfied within their job roles.

How to Get Started With Group Mentoring

If you’ve read through this article and think group mentoring is a good choice for you, let’s talk about how you can get started.

For Organisations: If you’re thinking of implementing a group mentoring programme within your organisation, PushFar is here to help. With hundreds of organisations across the globe using our platform to help fulfil their mentoring needs, we know a thing or two about the best mentoring practices. If you’re wondering how group mentoring can be used within your organisation, you can book a free demonstration with a member of our team today.

For Individuals: PushFar is delighted to announce that we will now be hosting free visual group mentoring sessions. Whether you’re looking to improve your knowledge of marketing or want to learn soft skills required in your career, make sure to sign up for one of our group mentoring sessions and book your place today.

These sessions are open to anyone globally and hosted by experienced members from our open network who are highly knowledgeable and experienced in their session topic. Remember, these sessions are limited to only 8 spaces to ensure the effective learning of each mentee, you can view the details of each session here:

Final Thoughts

Group mentoring is a powerful tool that organisations and individuals shouldn’t be taking for granted. Whether an organisation wants to onboard their employees or as an individual you want to enhance your knowledge on the latest HR practices, there are many ways group mentoring can be used to help aid and assist the learning and development journey.

We hope this article was able to showcase the benefits, value, and opportunities group mentoring can bring to both the lives of an individual and the organisation as a whole.