For years, mentoring has been viewed as a valuable informal learning tool. In an organizational setting, mentoring typically has been managed in a top-down manner. Traditionally, senior executives identify an organization’s mentors and high-potential employees and then pair a mentor with a protege to help the latter craft a long-term career path. The learner gains value from the mentor’s insights usually through one-on-one meetings and discussions.

However, the mentoring process is changing for two reasons. One is globalization and the need to share knowledge, expertise and growth opportunities across the organization regardless of geographical separation. The other is more cultural in nature, and it is this change that is likely to have the most profound influence. Mentoring in the future will involve a workforce with attitudes shaped by technology and social networking. Instead of the mentor controlling the process, in the future talent managers are likely to see the learner drive the mentoring engagement and maybe even choose a mentor outside the organization. This shift is already under way and changing mentoring in several positive ways.

The Changing Face of Mentoring
In the traditional setting, mentoring happens within the organization where the learner and mentor are employed. The mentor’s role is to open doors, create connections and teach the learner to navigate the organization. The mentor is literally a human portal making connections that could be valuable throughout the learner’s career. The portal connects learners to others who can help them overcome and capitalize on challenges.

In a truly global environment, mentoring is increasingly virtual. A mentor in California may help guide a learner in India without the two ever holding a live meeting. Even more startling, it is frequently not the organization selecting the mentor; the learner selects the person or persons who can provide the best career growth guidance.

With the growing prominence of LinkedIn and similar networks, savvy employees, and quite often their employers, are making connections and joining groups, all of which is part of their learning process. It only follows that an online connection made by an eager learner and a savvy veteran willing to offer advice will evolve into a mentoring situation.