National Mentoring Day

The tradition of observing this day and later month was initiated in the Harvard School. The organizers proposed to start an event that is to involve people into the common support without any attachment to concrete spheres. The occasion is held on the October 27th. The whole month is set from the 1st to the 31st of January.

The role of mentoring was studied in 2006 by the American research firm. 89% of mentees go on to mentor someone themselves and contribute to a culture of learning. Mentees are 5 times more likely to be promoted. In one study, mentoring programs boosted minority representation in management from 9% to 24%. 84% of CEOs said mentors had helped them avoid costly mistakes.

The responsibility for providing this day in many states was appointed to governing organizations. Activities are coordinated by many agencies. Volunteers also were widely involved into the occasion.

When embarking on a mentoring relationship, keep these four elements in mind: Build trust. First and foremost, there must be trust between the mentee and mentor. Establish goals and share lessons learned. Take action. Celebrate successes.

We celebrate International Mentoring Day on January 17 while honoring the legacy of Muhammad Ali on what would have been his 75th birthday. Reflecting on the power of mentoring and how it contributes to creating a better world is a useful exercise any day, but particularly on a day that acknowledges a great man and his great life.