How Virtual Mentoring Is Closing The Loneliness Gap During COVID-19

The following excerpt is from the article published on Forbes.com May 12, 2020 How Virtual Mentoring Is Closing The Loneliness Gap During COVID-19 by Tayna Tarr.

Mentorship fits squarely within the domain of emotional stewardship. Both frameworks see interaction through a lens of long-term relationship and steady development. “Mentoring is a core part of who we are as humans,” said Seena Mortazavi, CEO of Chronus, a mentoring software and platform. 

Janice Omadeke agrees. She is CEO of The Mentor Method, also a mentoring platform. “Mentorship is the trifecta for employee morale,” Omadeke said. When an organization decides to invest in a mentorship program, “you're providing a safe space for them to discuss their feelings, you're connecting your talent to resources that build resiliency and you're showing an investment in their development, which can offer peace of mind, personally and professionally,” she said. That emotional support is vital as organizations do their best to navigate the pandemic. 

Mentoring programs have often been championed as a proven method to implement diversity and inclusion goals, close the opportunity gap and also retain staff. “We know that people really don't get promoted without having a champion and someone that can speak about you behind closed doors,” said Mortazavi, “Having mentoring as a part of the employee journey helps to level the playing field so everyone has the same opportunity to progress in their careers,” he said. Mortazavi also mentioned Cox Communications and Paychex Payroll Solutions as two other companies that had a significant and measurable boost in women advancing within the organization as a result of intentional mentoring programs.

While closing promotion gaps are important, that might not be the gap that is currently top-of-mind. The biggest problem that looms right now is not unfamiliar: loneliness. Loneliness and isolation have been costing businesses billions of dollars every year. “Imagine what's going on now,” said Mortazavi. “I can't even fathom what that cost will be in terms of impact to our lives or health conditions or mental health,” he said. Mortazavi noted that the pandemic is surfacing places where employees might not have a support network that can help them navigate the new work-from-home reality.

To read the complete article: How Virtual Mentoring Is Closing The Loneliness Gap During COVID-19

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