How Mentorship, Communication Prepares Young People For The Work Environment
You’ve probably heard the old adage: “trust is the glue of life and it strengthens relationship.” And, whether that has proven true for you yet or not, you will fully understand the meaning of the phrase when you take part in a mentorship relationship. The importance of mentorship runs deeper than extending one’s network– it can be life-changing.
One of the most important determinants in teaching and learning is trust and a belief that each student is capable of unlocking their potential and this can be built by human connections and communication.
Navigating your career
As young people prepare to enter the workforce, they are often faced with a range of challenges and uncertainties. From identifying their strengths and weaknesses to developing the skills they need to succeed; the road ahead can seem daunting. However, with the right guidance and support, young people can overcome these obstacles and achieve their goals. This is where mentorship and communication come in.
Together with Vrije University Amsterdam and Maseno University, we recently held the brown bag lunch, a platform that brought together 40 young people to position themselves and learn practical ways to seek out opportunities, develop the skills they need to navigate complex workplace relationships and build the networks that they need to succeed.
Innovative Mind-set
In our world today, social currency is the new gold. Identifying and associating with positive masculinity, building your work ethic and social currency to advance in your career is key.
It is therefore important that young people network strategically and form connections relevant to their career path.
In addition to the practical skills from different speakers on how mentorship and communication can impact students’ career path, it is imperative that they acknowledge their role in evaluating a company before accepting a job offer and therefore their ability to evaluate the company’s culture is key to ensuring both their values align and their growth within the organisation is possible.
Mental health and well-being
Blending team building activities and mentorship has an enormous impact on young people’s mental health and well-being. By creating a safe and fun space where someone can talk to and rely on the other, students can feel less isolated and more supported. This in return helps them to build resilience and cope with the stresses and pressures both internally and externally. Additionally, it prepares them to address the horrors that exist towards young people new to the job market.
Authored by: Purity Akoth.
About the author
Purity Akoth is the Head of Communications at LakeHub. She has a Journalism background from Maseno University and is a member of AMWIK and PRSK with a passion for social impact storytelling, innovation and digital inclusion.
*The views expressed in this post are those of the author and in no way reflect those of LakeHub.*
