MBK Senior Living Mentorship Program Builds Comradery, Culture and Community
Did you know that more than 70% of Fortune 500 companies have formal mentoring programs? At MBK Senior Living, a company with a culture steeped in continuous improvement, teamwork, accountability, mutual trust, and respect, developing a solid mentorship program was a natural choice.
In honor of National Mentoring Month, we're highlighting MBK Senior Living's program and how it fortifies the company's culture while also building camaraderie and connections throughout its 33 senior living communities.
Inherently, mentorship programs create a learning culture, promote personal and professional development, increase job satisfaction, and reduce turnover. At MBK Senior Living, the mentor program also supports the company's Purpose: to exceed the quality, service, and care expectations of those we serve.
Over the three-month program, new directors are matched with a mentor who shares their expertise, provides guidance, helps mentees establish and achieves goals, and supports the company purpose to enrich residents' lives and promote whole-person wellbeing.
"We achieve our purpose by inspiring our team and encouraging a passion of excellence in everything we do," said Kirsten Van Holt, Talent Coordinator at MBK Real Estate Companies. "For new directors, it's beneficial to have an immediate connection that is invested in helping them seamlessly transition into their role."
According to Van Holt, mentors and mentees meet six times throughout the program but often communicate more regularly. In addition to gaining practical advice and human connection, MBK mentees find that it helps increase confidence, expand professional networks, improves communications and management skills, and empowers them to pursue goals actively.
Likewise, MBK mentors find it a valuable program that lends to their personal and professional development. In addition to playing an integral role in the company, mentors find the program helps improve interpersonal skills, expands their networking pool, and creates opportunities for knowledge sharing and learning.
"As a company rooted in human services and a culture that inspires and elevates experiences, it's only natural that MBK Senior Living would focus on a program that invests in its people," added Van Holt.
The investment has paid in spades. Since developing the mentorship program, MBK Senior Living has experienced a genuine commitment to continuous improvement, increased collaboration and productivity, and leadership development. The company recently ranked 7th on Fortune magazine's Best Workplaces For Aging ServicesTM 2020 list, and for the third year in a row, it has been certified as a Great Place to Work®.
"MBK Senior Living has long been known for its commitment to offering quality services with genuine care. The mentorship program is just another example of how they put that into practice," said Van Holt.
“Investing in our team members has residual effects. Team members who feel appreciated and supported ardently pay that forward by compassionately caring for our residents’ individual needs. Simply put, we equate happy team members with happy residents.”
Learn more about MBK Senior Living at www.mbkseniorliving.com.
