Skip to Content

Want to do even more as a mentor?

Become a group mentoring leader!

Interested in the prospect of having an impact on even more entrepreneurs in your area? Looking to take your mentorship skills to the next level in a dynamic and rewarding context? Then group mentoring is for you!

 

The Réseau Mentorat group mentoring program is...

  • A program developed as part of the Réseau Mentorat pilot project in Montreal and Quebec City in 2017 that has delivered compelling results.
  • Specialized training (available free of charge through Réseau Mentorat) to help you hone your natural leadership and facilitation skills (with accreditation for select group mentors).
  • A toolkit to help you deploy the program in your region easily and quickly, working alongside your mentorship cell. It includes a series of guides and communication tools to promote group mentoring.

 

Benefits of group mentoring for mentees

  • Provides immediate access to real-life experiences and examples that are as diverse as they are relevant.
  • Helps entrepreneurs forge or fine-tune their vision.
  • Inspires entrepreneurs to be more proactive by putting them in contact with other entrepreneurs.
  • Encourages them to ask questions and opens up new opportunities.
  • Helps them build a broader network of entrepreneurs with similar values.
  • Lets participants get a better handle on who they are and what they want.
  • Keeps entrepreneurs focused on their priorities.
  • Breaks down the walls of isolation and builds up entrepreneurs’ confidence in their own abilities and in their business.
  • Makes mentoring more accessible (group mentoring can be easier and more cost-effective to set up than individual mentoring for some mentorship cells).
  • Prepares entrepreneurs for a typical mentoring relationship (mentor/mentee dyad).

 

How cohorts work

  • Monthly three-hour meetings with two group mentors with a background in business and specialized mentorship training.
  • An initial full-group meeting to introduce the members of the cohort to one another, explain the program logistics and identify participants’ needs.
  • A subsequent series of eight to nine meetings where entrepreneurs can discuss their respective challenges, concerns and outlooks and talk about a topic chosen by their group. Each of these topics will focus on helping entrepreneurs maximize their potential (leadership, team building, vision/passion, etc.).
  • A private Facebook group to keep the members of the cohort updated and create a forum where entrepreneurs can continue to interact and network.

Group mentoring is complementary to individual mentoring and may help prepare entrepreneurs for a subsequent dyad (mentor-mentee) relationship.

 

Qualifications to become a group mentor

  • Strongly recommended: Open to practicing and retired entrepreneurs;
  • Strongly recommended: Experience starting up a business* (currently in operation or not);
  • Strongly recommended: Experience managing one or more employees;
  • An active mentor (in a dyad) accredited by Réseau Mentorat (compulsory attendance of the introductory workshop “Is Mentoring for Me?”) and
    ideally have 2 dyads to his credit;
  • Completion of the Réseau Mentorat group mentor workshop;
  • Strong group leadership and facilitation skills :
    • ACTIVE LISTENING
    • Group moderation
    • Flexibility
    • Organization
    • Ability to guide discussions (ask questions, rephrase/clarify statements, provide positive reinforcement, etc.)
    • Humility, patience, sense of humour
  • Ease in working with Facebook (preferred);
  • Availability for group meetings over a one-year period.

 

Role of the group mentor

  • Organize and prepare cohort meetings;
  • Work with the coordinator to manage the group (guide group dynamics as needed);
  • Lead meetings (in conjunction with a second mentor);
  • Be available to provide follow-up and feedback at the midway point and at the end of the program, in conjunction with the coordinator;
  • Provide logistical support and take part in discussions between meetings (e.g., via the Facebook group).

*For groups of startup entrepreneurs. For groups of entrepreneurs who plan to sell their business or pass the torch to a new owner, the group mentor must have succession-related experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interested to become a group mentor?

Group mentoring is currently offered in a few areas for the moment.

Contact Mélanie Bordeleau for more information.

mbordeleau@reseaumentorat.com

 

 

Group mentoring is complementary to individual mentoring. In every way.

“I’ve discovered that group mentoring allows me to take my passion to the next level. The meetings are very rewarding. We share things that work, things we’re proud of and things we worry about. We’re like a family! 

Even more valuable, we get to learn directly from the experience of other mentors.”

Elfi Maldonado, Chocolats Qantu

Réseau M Montréal