Technology company Unite Us’ Peer Mentorship Program offers an opportunity for mentees and mentors to connect, share experiences, and learn from one another. The program aims to connect peer mentors and mentees who are working toward the same area of focus, build relationships across peer mentoring pairs and pods with different areas of focus, and engage in micro-learning that spans all areas of focus.
This program fosters a collaborative learning environment where knowledge and skills are shared organically, enhancing overall team competency and cohesion. By leveraging the strengths and expertise of individual team members, the organization can address skills gaps more efficiently and tailor development to real-time needs. Moreover, this program builds strong interpersonal relationships and trust within the team, which can lead to higher job satisfaction and reduced turnover.
Program Details
The Peer Mentorship Program is a three-month commitment and requires employees to meet a minimum of three times a month for at least one hour each meeting. Additionally, employees participating in the program are engaged in a once-a-month learning program and community of practice. The delivery method is a mix of virtual live instructor-led training (ViLT), one-on-one virtual training, and asynchronous eLearning.
Interested employees complete an application that asks them in which focus area they would like to work for the quarter. Based on their responses they are paired mentor(s) to mentee(s).
The focus areas are:
- Change Management
- Conflict Management and Resolution
- Leadership
- Persuasive Communication
- Strategic Thinking and Problem Solving
Program goals and objectives aim to:
- Help participants identify and achieve development and personal growth goals that support business objectives
- Foster higher levels of engagement and career vision
- Create opportunities to meet and collaborate across teams, roles, and/or cultural boundaries
- Maintain a culture that leverages internal expertise and peer support as an effective way to develop individual team members
An eLearning library was curated with content specific to each focus area. This allows for self-paced and ongoing learning. Each employee participating in the program is provided access to the library that is specific to their focus area.
Additionally, all participants are invited and encouraged to participate in the monthly meetings that bring all mentors and mentees together to learn a topic that spans all focus areas, including but not limited to professional branding and how to communicate so others listen. This monthly peer mentorship program meeting is designed to be interactive and engaging, with a focus on building relationships and fostering professional growth. During the meeting, participants can discuss shared challenges, such as organizational changes or major projects, and offer insights and perspectives.
Results
Three evaluations are used in this program:
30-day pulse check
Measures Level 1 – Reaction
100 percent of respondents agreed with the statement: “I feel encouraged to continue to participate in this program.”
60-day pulse check
Measures Level 1 – Reaction and Level 2 – Learning
100 percent of respondents strongly agreed with the statement: “I believe it will be worthwhile for me to apply what I have learned.”
End-of-program evaluation
Measures Level 1 – Reaction and Level 2 – Learning
88 percent of mentor respondents strongly agreed with the statement: “I would recommend others to participate in this program.”
The company saw a 7-point increase in the overall engagement score, a 10-point increase in the psychological safety score, and a 6-point increase in the growth and development score from fourth quarter 2023 to second quarter 2024.
