We define micro-mentoring as an intentional pairing of a mentor and mentee for between one and three sessions focused on a very specific topic or skill.

What is Micro-Mentoring?

Deep mentoring relationship that potentially stretch over years are terrific opportunities for support and leadership growth, but micro-mentoring has distinct benefits that can complement and enhance the more “traditional” models of longer-term commitments.

In the past, the logistical challenges of identifying mentors and mentees and matching them appropriately restricted the implementation of micro-mentoring programs. Today, with Torace, such program can be implemented with ease, unlocking a variety of benefits that come with shorter commitments but more frequent opportunities.

• Support DEI initiatives by increasing access to mentoring relationships that don’t rely on how well-connected an individual's network is

• Build communities across sites and enhance staff understanding and interest in sites other than their own

• Encourage engagement with particular initiatives or focus areas

• Promote a culture of continuous learning by giving experienced staff an opportunity to build skills in specific areas

• Extend leadership opportunities to interested staff who have specific expertise in areas of interest to others

• Spread out the workload by not always tapping the same “super mentors” for everything, and allow others to grow their leadership skills

Types of Micro-Mentoring Programs

Because Torace allows programs to customize the pools in which mentors and mentees can be matched, Micro-Mentoring programs can be structured in a wide variety of ways to meet a lot of different objectives. For instance:

• Short-term interventions around a specific topic or initiative like SEL, can pair those with prior experience or training with staff seeking support on implementation

• Personalized professional development plans can be supported by allowing staff to pick a cluster of micro events around specifics topics that are of interest to them or that have been identified as strength or growth areas

• One-off supports can be quickly implemented on emerging issues, concerns or community priorities

• “Speed mentoring” can increase the number of connections and opportunities to create longer-term organic mentoring relationships

• Informational interviews can help connect staff interested in grow-your-own programing to folks at other sites to learn about roles in new contexts

Additional Resources

For use cases and templates, visit out Micro-Mentoring Resources page.