Spotlight on Mentoring... with Cordelia Johnney!

HDN Region /Programme:?London and SE / Staff Mentoring

?Hi Cordelia, how long have you been mentoring for Housing Diversity Network?

I have been mentoring for HDN for the past 7 years with both London and the South East and the South West Teams.

?What motivated you to join us?

I was working with the HDN on other areas of work and working with the different regional groups and it became a natural progression. I had heard a lot about the mentoring program and the opportunities it gave both the mentors and mentees. After attending on of the mentoring celebrations and hearing the mentees talk about the impact the program had, had on their career paths, was inspired. So I jumped at the opportunity to become an HDN mentor.

What’s the best thing about being a mentor? How does it support the mentor's own development?

Working with the mentees.

The mentees are great they are helping you as well as being supported by you. They challenge you to be better, to want to be better. By sharing your experiences with them, you are reminded of the past lessons you had learned and have in your pocket to use later. You can put yourself in a position to practice what you preach. Mentoring is not a one-way relationship it is defiantly two way. The HDN Team have been really good at matching mentors and mentees and I think this has helped as I feel I’ve learned just as much from my mentees as they have from me. Mentoring has always left me feeling that I can make a difference, even if it is only to one person, (and that’s a great feeling).

?In your view, to be an effective mentor, what are the 3 top skills/attributes to develop?

·??????Listening

·??????Professional supportive relationship building

·??????Knowing when to share learning and experiences

?Using your crystal ball, predict the future for mentoring…

The need for mentoring is growing and becoming a more popular development tool and in the future, I think it will have become a tool used by all businesses for their employees as the value and importance of mentoring is fully realised.

?Thank you for all your mentoring and support of the HDN, Cordelia!

If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a HDN Mentor to staff on our programmes, email: [email protected] - now!