Oftentimes when people think of mentorships and mentoring programs, they think of the traditional one-on-one relationships between a mentor and mentee. However, while this is the most well known and popular form of mentorships, mentoring come in a variety of other forms that are personalised to suit your needs, personal or professional.

No matter your goals, mentoring is a great opportunity to gain a new perspective and insight based on a mentor’s own skills, knowledge and experience. In both formal and informal settings, mentoring is crucial for growth. Here are three types of mentorships that you can benefit from.

The Key To Mentoring Success

The key to a successful mentorship comes from a relationship that has clearly defined and set goals and boundaries. Not only does this provide a goal to work towards, but both mentor and mentee are able to determine what challenges lie ahead, how they can overcome them as well as see definitive progress. 

Traditional One-On-One Mentoring

This is the most traditional mentoring method, where a senior, established or experienced individual provides guidance, support and encouragement. This model is often used in formal mentorships where there are set formats and meetings to adhere to, so they may track progress and offer advice.

A key benefit of traditional, one-on-one mentoring is that there is the potential of forming a strong-long term relationship built on trust. As such, mentors are able to provide consistent support in both business and personal growth.

Group & Team Mentoring

As the name suggests, group and team mentorships refer to one mentor working with several mentees in a group. Similar to traditional mentorships, these relationships adhere to meetings and schedules.

Unlike traditional mentoring, one of the biggest benefits of group mentoring is that it provides individuals with the opportunity to learn, discuss and exchange advice on different topics. This allows both mentor and mentees to understand each other’s struggles and concerns while learning new skills and gaining new perspectives. 

Distance or Online Mentoring

In today’s digital landscape many aspects of life and work have moved online. Distance or online mentoring is a relatively new and contemporary approach to mentoring that is often used when face-to-face interaction is difficult. 

Following the traditional model, online mentoring is typically conducted one-on-one over virtual platforms such as Skype or Zoom. More and more people are realising the power of online mentorships. 

The biggest benefit to online mentorships is the convenience and accessibility. More individuals are now able to benefit from the knowledge and experience of successful mentors, all without having to travel.

High Quality Online Mentorships With Ruffle

A one-size-fits-all approach to mentorships don’t work, as all needs, goals and aspirations are different. Ruffle Mentoring is an innovative online mentoring platform designed to connect women with other experienced women to build their success through education and expert guidance.

The mentors on the Ruffle Mentoring platform offer trusted, experienced guidance that helps you take steps toward your goals. If you want to try online mentoring that caters to your specific needs, try Ruffle Mentoring today.