Empathy First: How Your Virtual Mentoring Programs Should Shift
In this time of social distancing, human connection is more important than ever. Uncertainty, discomfort and even fear are emotions that many members of your workforce have probably felt during the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to provide empathy and compassionate support, many organizations are turning to virtual mentoring programs or pivoting existing mentorship to virtual facilitation to accommodate the shifting needs of their now remote workforce.
In their recent Harvard Business Review article, authors David Smith and Brad Johnson noted “mentors play a pivotal role in safeguarding retention and building organizational commitment, particularly in times of crisis.” During days like these, it’s imperative to leverage connections between mentors and mentees in order to lower anxiety, overcome imposter syndrome and foster strong emotional bonds to your organization.
In this webinar, you’ll learn:
- Best practices for how to conduct conversations and increase active listening
- How to shift mentoring goals and be flexible to the changing needs of mentees
- How mentors can be examples of psychosocial functions
Special Guests:
David G. Smith, Ph.D.
David G. Smith, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the US Naval Academy, a gender and work researcher, and an author. Through his research and experience, he has established value to organizations looking to improve gender relations.
W. Brad Johnson, Ph.D.
W. Brad Johnson, Ph.D. is a mentor development expert, a clinical psychologist, a professor in the Dept. of Leadership, Ethics & Law at the Naval Academy, and a Faculty Associate in the Graduate School of Education at Johns Hopkins University.
