Virtual Meet Up : Communication 101 Master Session

Date 11.02.2023

It was a pleasure to speak with the BORA Mentors Pool once more for a master class on communication. BORA is a network of young people who cooperate to change the world through mentoring and who have similar interests and guiding values. Each month, they concentrate on a single subject, and February will be all about communication as a follow-up to January's self-awareness month.

Evolution

The way we communicate hasn't stopped changing along with the rest of the world, especially with the introduction of new tools and technology that are meant to improve communication. 

However, there is two things that we will need to give keen attention that technology cannot assist us with, and that is how we listen and empathize as essential elements of communication chains or channels that help us to remain human in spite of technical advancements. 

 Though communication is a broad issue with many subtopics, we concentrated on the following characteristics of communication in relation to mentorship during our nearly two-hour virtual meetup. 

1. How to communicate and connect with people generally (Networking).
2.  How to communicate with mentees. Mentor vs. Mentee relationship.
3.  The impact of communication and how it opens your doors to access opportunities (Personal Branding) 

 In general, a few important words spring to mind when we talk about communication, such as sender, receiver, channel, message, and types of communication, among others.

It is crucial that we always assess the situation using the 5W and 1H, meaning, before selecting any style of communication. 

•  WHAT - refers to the message that must be delivered. 
• WHY - Define or comprehend the meaning.
• WHERE - refers to a location or setting.
• WHEN - the timing element. 
• WHO - The target audience, receiver, or audience. 
• HOW - the method to be employed, such as email, in-person communication, handwritten communication, etc

 The Barriers

There are several potential impediments to communication, including organizational hierarchy, language, time zones, platforms, and surroundings, to name a few.

Additionally, based on the topic below, I suggest reading more. Find out more online about...

1.  Communication barriers.
2.  Effective communication.
3.  Storytelling.
4. How to network effectively.
5. Communication for development. (C4D).
6.  Personal Branding. 

 Recommended reading https://haiilo.com/blog/communication-barriers/ 

 The Mentorship Model +throughMylens

What is mentorship? 

" What Is the Definition of Mentorship? A mentorship is a relationship between two people where the individual with more experience, knowledge, and connections is able to pass along what they have learned to a more junior individual within a certain field. The more senior individual is the mentor, and the more junior individual is the mentee."

 Read More >> https://t.ly/-kqN9 

The  Question

 To single out one question that I was asked: How do you initiate communication with a mentee for the first time?

 My answer; 

1.  Identifying the proper time, location, and medium or mode is the first step in evaluating the context. 
2. Prior to the meeting, both the mentee and mentors should have a basic background. 
3. In terms of communication, it would be an 80/20 split, with the mentees providing the majority of the insight while the mentor provides the majority of the listening, followed by the 20% that will set the stage for the following arrangements, particularly regarding areas of focus, when, why, and how

Here is a diagram I came up with to describe the relationship between a mentor and mentee.

My theory has two models, which are as follows:

Open model - One to many or many to many relationship. 

• Pros - Diversity - Flexibility 
• Cons - Unstructured - overwhelming - Might lack accountability

 Connector Model -In this model, there is an organisation in charge of planning everything so that the mentor and mentee may cooperate on a set schedule.

• Pros - Consistent - Targeted - Well structured / timely. - Accountability - Professional - Feedback / reporting loops. 
•  Cons - Sometimes guided within a framework. - Time might be short. - Predictable.

 In conclusion 

There are numerous fallacies surrounding mentoring, such as the notion that the mentor is always a more senior individual and never needs to learn anything in the process. 

The fact is that both the mentee and the mentee have something to learn, and I believe a young person can become a mentor to a senior person depending on their skill, talent, and experience—even though this isn't always done out of ego. 

"Human evolution has placed communication at its core, and it is present everywhere." - Wilson Masaka, Youth Advocate and Social Entrepreneur. 

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