Quick Guide to Different Types of Informal Mentoring

Courtesy – entrepreneur

Do you know what’s the difference between formal and informal mentoring? The latter can occur across the workplace without you knowing. While formal mentorship requires a set plan and a dedicated mentor, the other one can happen on the go.

Here are some examples of this type of mentorship.

• Leaders Looking for the Best of Employees: At times, senior experts tend to walk beside juniors and help them navigate their professional paths. They can offer the moral support and encouragement that employees want. Moreover, some managers can also advocate for you when you are interested in a special job opening.
• Managers who care about progress and development: This type of mentoring happens when management takes a worker under the wing. Such an employee gets the desired guidance for the development and career growth.
• Feedback from Colleagues: Peer mentorship is as useful as the other types. It can be as simple as getting guidance from a colleague. And if the colleague is a senior level or expert, he/she can assist you in hitting your aim and improving your performance as a part of this.
• Using online forums: Informal group mentorship can also occur when you participate in a forum, group, or professional conversation. The exchanges can be illuminating, instructive, and stimulating.

Various Advantages of Informal Mentoring

• Intensive: Due to the personal information shared, the relationship stays far away from the formal bounds. It can grow intensive and let the mentor give suggestions for resolution.
• Freeway: Informal mentoring in an office does not depend upon a set timeline. Informal mentoring doesn’t include fixed sessions, giving mentees a freeway to learn with comfort.

However, the key to success is to find a business mentor that helps you grow.