The benefits of being a BCI mentor
By Wayne Harrop, B.A Hons, MBCI, MEPS, MIEM, MICDDS

“I have found through the mentoring experience that my own understanding of the core concepts has actually become clearer”

I recently signed up for the BCI mentor Scheme as a mentor to a new BCI student member (Peter Johnson). Peter is studying at Coventry University and has spent a year’s placement with me here in the City of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council. The mentor experience has taught me very clearly that; when you teach principles, you actually learn and develop a much deeper understanding of your subject than you gain simply through the day to day activities of just doing them. Walking through the industry from the ground up required you to explain, justify and sometimes reflect on industry thinking. I can say that, whilst I focused on developing Peter’s skills, the actual process of mentoring was as rewarding for me as I hope it was for him. I have found through the mentoring experience that my own understanding of the core concepts has actually become clearer, even though I already feel confident with my knowledge. The process of helping Peter develop and learn actually helped me develop a greater understanding of not only the ‘what we should do’, but also the ‘why we should do it’.

In short mentoring offers a number of obvious benefits:

It sets a mental deadline for you – requiring you bring together the necessary skills/knowledge within a prescribed timeframe. Acting as a mentor is placing yourself in the crucible. It forces you to focus your mind on the subject for a fixed period of time. It requires you go beyond the day to day application of the subject, to the extent that you can not only apply it but can actually communicate it in a clear and succinct fashion.

It acts as a form of revision - helping you review the many facets of business continuity – often reminding you of concepts you come across very infrequently.

It acts as a feedback mechanism - by highlighting gaps in your knowledge, often things that you use infrequently and are subsequently less fluent - areas where with a little research you would quickly convert them into strengths.

It helps build a solid network of industry contacts – today’s mentees are tomorrow’s managers – manager’s who you’ve hopefully built a relationship of professional respect, and formed personal friendships with.

Finally, and most obviously, it benefits the mentee’s career and our industry.

Based on my experience I would encourage all BCI members to look at this scheme with the merit that it deserves.

Read the thoughts of Peter Johnson on his experiences as a mentee