As a mentoring program admin, you are always striving to innovate and continuously improve your program. So why not use the beginning of the New Year as an opportunity to revitalize your mentoring program? Make a resolution (or two) to spruce up your program this year. We have tried to help, by creating a list of 10 possible ways to improve your program. Feel free to pick and choose!

1. Send out a survey to get a fresh perspective on your program.
   It’s easy to get caught up in day-to-day activities. So at times, it’s helpful to take a step back and assess the big picture.
2. Find a successful mentoring pair and share their story to help with recruitment. Success stories help communicate the benefits of mentoring and will give prospective mentees an idea of what they could get out of joining the program.
3. Add a new profile field for all participants that will allow them to share light-hearted information about themselves (i.e. favorite movie).
   Sharing this type of information will allow participants to feel more connected with others that they have never met before.
4. Check the administrative reports built into the software.
   Find your weak spots and brainstorm ways to increase engagement.
5. Set up a virtual Q&A session with mentors and mentees.
   Whether this is a formal video conference or a simple messenger chat, this will allow participants to clarify any questions they have as well as allow you to be viewed as a resource for further questions.
6. Tap your strongest mentors to publish tips in the Mentor forum and provide informal guidelines to other mentors.
   Allowing mentors to learn from each other will create a tighter community and will improve overall effectiveness.
7. Conduct “spot check-ins” to reach out to random mentees and mentors.
   Ask how they are doing in the program and collect feedback on the program. Connecting directly with participants is a great way to build trust.
8. Start a participant referral program.
   Word of mouth is one of the most effective kinds of marketing. So encourage current participants to share their experience of the program with others and recruit new mentors and mentees.
9. Provide mentees training on their role and how to get the most out of their experience.
   Training mentors is only half of the equation; mentees need guidance as well. Communicate to mentees, how to effectively use each portion of the program to its fullest.
10. Start a new topic in the community forums.
    Pick an inclusive topic that will start a good conversation and allow the most people to chime in with their experience. Getting people to talk to each other is the basis of overall engagement.