My experience with a peer-mentoring program

I've recently joined a program developed by a company (ambition-in-motion.com) with a novel idea: bring two people from different industries but with common aspirations together and coach them on how to be peer-mentors to each other. As part of this program, I agreed to meet with my peer-mentor at least six times over a period of six months. In each one of those meetings, we take time to know more about each other and offer advice and encouragement. We practice active listening and openness, ask probing questions and check on each other's progress and struggles.

The basic premise of this innovative program is that all people can teach and learn from other people by having thoughtful conversations. The team at Ambition in Motion did a good job in matching me with someone who works in a totally different industry, but who has something very important in common with me. Apparently, we both have a characteristic described as "career orientation". This means that we both see our professional lives as more than simply a job, but not as an all-encompassing mission, or a "calling". We both want to improve, become better at what we do, while at the same time striving to reach the elusive work-life balance.

Up to now, we've had two meetings, so we're not even halfway through the program yet. The first meeting was a bit superficial, as we were just getting to know each other and trying to figure out exactly how we could help and what we could gain from the experience. In the second meeting, the tone and depth of the conversation changed quite substantially. I realized that we were asking better questions, exchanging more meaningful experiences and ideas, listening to each other with more intent. The concept of peer mentorship started materializing, as I became more open to answering more candidly, and to asking more personal questions. My peer mentor made me think harder about my plan to overcome current challenges to personal and professional challenges. By simply being there, asking good questions and listening attentively, he helped me organize my thoughts and vague intentions and formulate a concrete plan of action to achieve my goals.

In summary, the peer-mentorship program is a good way to match two strangers and make them friends, supporting each other over a six-month period, aiming to make both better prepared to achieve their unique goals and aspirations.