Use upskilling workshops to promote National Mentoring Month

January is National Mentoring Month, a time to recognize the invaluable role that mentorship plays in professional development. This follows up National Learning & Development Month in November and National Career Development Month in December, closing out a three-month stretch ideal for helping your employees develop into their best selves. Fostering a culture of learning and growth enhances individual capabilities and job satisfaction – not to mention the boost to overall organizational health.

This January, we want to highlight the importance of mentorship opportunities and suggest a series of potential upskilling workshops aimed at elevating your workforce and strengthening interpersonal relationships within your teams. Connect with your managers about which of their employees have a stand-out skill worth sharing with more people, and offer employees the opportunity to volunteer their expertise.

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Developing camaraderie through mentorship programs

Mentorship programs serve as vital channels for building interpersonal relationships within organizations. When employees engage in mentorship, they create connections that promote trust, open communication and shared learning experiences. These relationships often lead to increased job satisfaction, enhanced morale, and a sense of belonging within the workplace.

Interestingly, when employees were asked what topics they most want communication about from their employers, training and development rose to the top – reflecting not just their desire for personal growth, but also their need for support in developing essential skills. Mentors share their knowledge and expertise, but they also offer essential guidance and support, helping mentees navigate challenges and build confidence. This dynamic can foster a growing network of allies across the organization, breaking down silos and encouraging collaboration. By investing in mentorship, organizations empower their employees to grow professionally while reinforcing a culture of support and cooperation.

Benefits in cross-departmental collaboration

Implementing mentorship programs across different departments can also benefit the organization, not just the participating employees. Cross-departmental mentorship encourages diversity of thought and fosters innovative problem-solving, as well as deepened empathy for unfamiliar responsibilities. When individuals from varied backgrounds and expertise collaborate, they bring unique perspectives that can lead to more creative solutions and improved processes.

Additionally, our Bridging the Communications Gap report revealed that 40% of employees want to see better communication skills from their leaders, ahead of flexibility, time management and empathy. This underscores the necessity for organizations to prioritize effective communication within mentorship structures. Those engaged in cross-departmental mentorship find themselves more connected to the organization’s mission, fostering greater loyalty and commitment. Ultimately, this leads to a workforce that is not only highly skilled, cohesive and aligned with the organization’s goals, but also more engaged, loyal and likely to stay.

Potential upskilling workshops

To honor National Mentor Month, we propose a variety of upskilling workshops designed to cater to diverse professional development needs. Highlight the outstanding skillsets already featured throughout your organization to share skills, tips and tricks that can help other employees do their job better – whether responsibilities overlap or not – or partner with local organizations for broader community building. Here are some potential workshop ideas that can benefit all employees:

“Soft” skills

1. Effective communication skills: Learn the art of clear and impactful communication, both verbal and written – this workshop is particularly timely given the strong employee desire for better communication from leadership. This can even be broken down into more specific workshops – how to advocate for yourself, how to ask for help, how to set boundaries and beyond.
2. Leadership development: Create a space for employees to build their leadership toolkit. By focusing on skills like decision-making, conflict resolution, and how to motivate a team, these workshops will uncover which team members are ready to step up and embrace new responsibilities, paving the way for their career growth.
   1. Recognition as a leadership discipline: Explore the vital role of regular recognition from team leaders and how acknowledging both significant and minor achievements can boost team morale and motivation. Explore strategies for personalized recognition that resonate with team members and understand the long-term benefits for employee retention and performance.
   2. Creating and nurturing a team culture: Delve into the essential elements of a positive team culture, focusing on open communication, collaboration and trust, which align with organizational values. Work with strategies for centering inclusivity, managing conflict constructively and facilitating clarity and honesty without fear of retribution.
3. Emotional intelligence training: Boost your team’s ability to connect with others by understanding emotional cues and developing effective interaction strategies.
4. Project management fundamentals: Equip your employees with the know-how to plan, execute and analyze projects efficiently so they can tackle challenges head-on and ensure project success.
5. Diversity, equity, and inclusion: Dive into why diversity matters in the workplace and discuss practical ways to create a more inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and respected.
6. Time management and productivity: Techniques to optimize time and increase productivity without sacrificing quality.
7. Creative problem solving: Techniques to enhance innovative thinking and approach challenges with a fresh perspective.
8. Networking skills for career growth: Learn strategies to develop and leverage professional networks for career advancement.
9. Stress management and wellbeing: Tools and techniques to maintain mental health and resilience in demanding work environments.

“Hard” skills

1. Advanced Excel for professionals: Someone in your organization is an Excel (or Google Sheets) wizard – let them teach their peers the lesser-known shortcuts, operations and equations to make their worksheets better than ever. Dig into advanced features like pivot tables, formulas, data visualization tools and automation techniques to streamline workflows and improve data analysis.
2. AI basics: While many folks are adopting AI tools for their day-to-day work, we found that only 36% of companies have guidance for its usage. Dive into what does or doesn’t make a strong LLM prompt, how to shape output and the importance of fact-checking its claims.
3. Data analytics and visualization: Teach employees how to analyze data effectively using tools like Tableau or Power BI, focusing on how to create compelling visualizations that drive business insights.
4. Introduction to coding: Offer beginners an overview of coding concepts using popular programming languages such as Python, JavaScript or even HTML. This workshop can include hands-on projects to create simple applications or web pages.
5. Digital marketing essentials: Cover the fundamentals of digital marketing, including SEO, social media marketing, email marketing and analytics to help employees understand how to reach and engage target audiences. Make it personal to your organization and use real campaign data to drive the connection between internal actions and results.
6. Cybersecurity fundamentals: Provide an overview of cybersecurity principles, best practices for protecting company and customer data and how to respond to potential security threats.
7. Financial analysis and reporting: Equip employees with skills to analyze financial statements, create budgets, and utilize financial modeling to inform business decisions.
8. Graphic design basics: Introduce employees to graphic design tools (such as Adobe Illustrator or Canva) and techniques to create visually appealing marketing materials, presentations and social media content. Rolling brand guidelines into this workshop empowers employees to take charge of their own materials while adhering to the standards set by the organization.
9. Cloud computing essentials: Cover the fundamentals of cloud computing, focusing on how to leverage cloud technologies for business solutions.
10. Agile project management techniques: Introduce employees to agile methodologies, providing tools and practices that promote flexibility, collaboration, and iterative progress in managing office projects.

As we celebrate National Mentoring Month, let’s reaffirm our commitment to fostering a culture of mentorship and continuous learning. By initiating upskilling workshops and promoting interpersonal relationships through mentorship, we can enhance collaboration, improve communication and ultimately drive organizational success. Embracing these opportunities cultivates individual talents and strengthens the fabric of our entire team. Together, let’s make this month a pivotal starting point for growth, connection and empowerment within our organizations.

Reach out to one of our friendly employee engagement experts today to learn more about how Reward Gateway | Edenred’s employee experience platform can help you support and empower your employees to become their best selves every day.