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.