Promoting talent through internal mentoring
In September, we launched our internal mentoring programme. 12 tandem pairs, made up of colleagues from all over Germany and from all business areas, got to know each other in a festive setting à la “Herzblatt”. At regular meetings, the tandems discuss current issues, develop joint solutions to challenging situations and work on the goals set at the beginning of the programme. Many of our tandems also met face-to-face throughout Germany during the year to discuss personal challenges in the team, their own career planning or very specific management topics such as delegation and feedback.
After five months, our mentors and mentees in the internal mentoring programme were able to meet up again at our headquarters in Nuremberg to catch up and reflect on the time that had passed. The face-to-face meetings were particularly valuable for our tandems. For the mentors, there was also a content workshop with peer case counselling, where they systematically discussed individual cases in the group and were able to advise each other. For the mentees, there was a short keynote speech on ‘confident appearance’ and an opportunity to share their experiences with the other mentees.
I benefit from being exposed to new ways of thinking and working, while at the same time realising that the core of the job hasn't changed that much. Last but not least, I have the opportunity to meet great young colleagues and expand my internal network.
Associate Partner, Attorney at law
We celebrated the end together with workshops, a reflection on the whole programme and the presentation of certificates and medals in Nuremberg. Our little tandem challenge, to cycle through our rose garden on a real tandem, also created a sense of teamwork and fun.
The tandems supported each other throughout the year and were able to grow as leaders – the mentees through the many years of professional experience of our mentors, and the mentors through the fresh input and new perspectives of their mentees.
What our mentees say about the programme:
- ‘In particular, the open and honest dialogue with my mentor is very helpful to get an ‘outsider’s’ view of the various issues. It also allows us to work specifically on issues that tend to get lost in the normal working day.’
- ‘New impulses/perspectives on various topics (e.g. reaching further career levels, people management, communication, etc.)’
- ‘External view on one’s own career and useful tips for further development’
- ‘Helpful for perspective planning and understanding team dynamics.’
- ‘You learn being more open and thinking outside the box. We can also learn a lot from the youngers and generally understand the younger generation better.’
- ‘The programme is a very good opportunity to pass on my own views and experiences to the mentee, but at the same time it gives me the chance to critically question myself’.
The dialogue between mentor and mentee offers me great added value. The discussions we have together give me valuable ideas and, by changing my perspective, I'm always able to look at things that concern me in my day-to-day work in a fresh way.
Partner, Country Manager
Internal mentoring is an important part of our talent development at Rödl & Partner – because our talents are the leaders of tomorrow!
