A strong duo: friendship and the mentoring programme support Bernd and Nils at Powerlines
The story of Bernd and Nils shows how the mentoring programme at Powerlines not only enables professional development, but also strengthens personal bonds within the team.
Nils has been an indispensable part of our local transport team for years and has continued to develop throughout his career at Powerlines. He has been a dedicated fitter from the very beginning, and over the years he has distinguished himself not only through his expertise, but also through his passion for the job.
It was this enthusiasm that led Nils to recruit his long-time friend Bernd for Powerlines. The two have been close friends for over 15 years and share many interests - which now also includes their profession. For Bernd, joining Powerlines was a real stroke of luck: he enjoys the variety of tasks and the technical challenges, and he appreciates the variety in his day-to-day work.
Support from the mentoring programme
A particular turning point came when Andreas - our experienced trainer for overhead lines in local transport - came up with the idea of developing Nils and Bernd together. Andreas had known both of them for years and Nils had worked in his team for a while when Andreas was still a senior site manager. He was therefore aware of Nils' potential and saw an opportunity to promote this potential through a new responsibility: the role of mentor.
With our new mentoring programme at Powerlines, experienced fitters like Nils, who is a qualified fitter, can help younger or less qualified colleagues to develop. This collaboration gives Bernd and Nils the opportunity not only to grow professionally, but also to learn from each other on a personal level. Nils passes on his knowledge and supports Bernd in his training as an overhead line fitter. Bernd, in turn, benefits from the practical support and experience that Nils can pass on to him.
More than just knowledge: Working at eye level with one and other
For both of them, this mentoring programme is an enrichment that goes beyond professional development. Nils emphasises: ‘The special thing is growing together. Not only professionally, but also personally. I can also speak plainly with Bernd and a special relationship of trust develops.’ The two support each other and learn to communicate as equals.
Nils also benefits personally from this collaboration: his role as a mentor helps him to further develop his leadership skills in his future role as a senior fitter, which he is working towards, and to pass on his expertise in a structured way. For Bernd, on the other hand, the collaboration means valuable support on his career path to becoming a Catenary Fitter, and the technical challenges spur him on to keep learning new things. Together, they can gradually move closer to their personal career goals.
A benefit for both sides
Our mentoring programme at Powerlines therefore not only creates space for professional growth, but also promotes personal relationships between those involved. Working with a long-time friend like Bernd and having the opportunity to actively help him get started as an overhead line technician strengthens trust and teamwork. For Powerlines, the mentoring programme is an investment in the future - both for the professional and personal development of our fitters.
