Mentorship in the Age of COVID-19
My first meeting with my mentor was supposed to happen in person. It was scheduled for early on a weekday morning - I would meet him at his office, before heading to my own. This was career mentorship, after all, so it made sense to see where he worked.
The COVID-19 pandemic thwarted our opportunity to meet face-to-face. In the midst of increasingly strict physical distancing measures, we moved our initial hourlong conversation to FaceTime.
I'm a part-time MBA student, but I also facilitate a mentorship program for the Peter Lougheed Leadership College at the University of Alberta. Each day, I steward undergraduate students and community leaders through the process of developing meaningful relationships as mentees and mentors, respectively. So, I was familiar with the mechanics of what I was about to do. And yet, I was extremely nervous.
As someone who thrives in social situations, I've long been a proponent of in-person meetings. Perhaps because of that personal preference, I was a holdout on virtual mentorship, sure that nothing could supplement the "real deal" of meeting face-to-face. But that first FaceTime meeting (and a handful of other virtual interactions in the weeks since) has changed my mind.
Here are a few lessons I've learned from virtual mentorship - insights to keep in mind now, and when we emerge from the pandemic:
Virtual mentorship can transcend time and space
Although my career mentor lives in the same city as me, I've since connected with a second mentor who lives halfway across the country. While no technology is perfect, internet speeds and platforms such as Google Hangouts and Zoom have evolved to make video calls fairly seamless. If you're up to the mental gymnastics required to schedule across time zones, technology can collapse the time and space between mentors and mentees.
Additionally, virtual mentorship can give mentees access to mentors who simply aren't available locally. I thought I was looking for a unicorn when I set out to find an award-winning Canadian author who wrote fully-realized queer characters into their sci-fi and fantasy novels. I wanted someone close enough in age to me that we would have similar cultural touchpoints, but seasoned enough that I could glean myriad lessons from their experiences with the publishing industry.
Surely, I thought to myself, I can't get all of this from one person.But just an hour after beginning my digital search, I found an author who fit my description through Mentorly, an online platform that connects young artists with creatives who have a proven track record in their industry. I now meet regularly with that mentor, who is located in Toronto, to get advice on improving my fiction writing. The seemingly magical possibilities of virtual mentorship turned my imaginary mentor into someone I talk to for an hour each week.
Mentorship anchors us when we feel adrift
This applies to both virtual and in-person mentorship: whether you're reaching out for coaching, advice, or support, mentors can help us endure unforeseen challenges. Better yet, mentors can help mentees chart a new course when the storm has passed.
There's perhaps no better time to engage in mentorship than during the COVID-19 crisis. We are all faced with unprecedented challenges spilling from this pandemic. Connecting with one or more mentors for support can help us feel less alone in this isolating time.
Virtual mentorship can forge more personal bonds
It can take countless hours to develop a lasting relationship with someone. Depending on how guarded they are, you might rarely get a glimpse into their personal lives.
For extremely private people, this era of remote work is likely stressful (I recommend Zoom's virtual backgrounds, which can hide your messy living room from prying eyes). But it's also an opportunity to get to know things about people we regularly interact with that might never otherwise come up.
During my first meeting with my career mentor, I learned he has a dog. She made a cameo towards the end of our call, jumping into his lap after some spirited barking. My mentor and I chatted about our mutual love of canines - and I got to share that I'm an aspiring dog owner. While the strength of our relationship will likely rest on something more substantive than a shared fondness for critters, I think that brief moment from our initial meeting helped us forge a more personal bond.
There are countless other ways video calls give participants a snapshot of how other people live and what they value. And there's something unique about the comfort of being in your own home that often leads to a more casual conversation than one you'd have at a coffee shop or in an office.
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The technology necessary to support the virtual mentorship I'm describing is a luxury that comes with a measure of privilege. So is the free time to engage with those outside your home. However, even if you can connect over the phone and find 15 minutes for a supportive conversation, remote mentorship can help you navigate the difficult weeks and months ahead.
Paradoxically, physical distancing can break down social barriers. Embracing virtual mentorship might help you emerge from the COVID-19 crisis feeling more connected and ready to tackle the new challenges that await us in the post-pandemic world.
Kelly Hobson is the PLLC Mentorship Coordinator.