Mentoring programs are often viewed as one-directional; the mentor sacrificing his or her personal time to pour knowledge into the mentee. However, having mentoring programs has several benefits - not just for the mentee, but also for the organization as a whole. It's a win-win!
Firstly, let's establish the various mentoring forms; supervisory, group, team and reverse. These are not the only ones, but they are the most common ones.
Why would your company want to consider embracing mentoring programs? Here are 8 reasons;
- Better onboarding: The onboarding process is often heaped with loads of new information. Having a mentor creates structure around learning the ins and outs of the business, as well as facilitating the process of fitting in because mentors can introduce new hires to co-workers
- Increase in employee retention: Having mentorship as part of the induction process helps new team members feel valued and supported. This can increase loyalty to your organization
- It creates a culture of growth and coachability: The people who tend to grow fastest and make less mistakes are those who are coachable. When an individual is used to receiving feedback and holding himself/herself accountable, it creates a more trusting work environment
- Leadership skills (for the mentor): Leadership is a foundational skill for advancing in one's career. Mentoring can be a way to demonstrate one's ability to lead, as well as one's professional skills. They also say that teaching is one of the best ways of practicing what you’ve learned!
- Skill development: A good mentor is able to pass down experiential - and sometimes even technical - knowledge. Whether it is softwares to use or how to speak to certain clients, these insights help maintain high standards in the organization
- Accountability: When there is someone your employee is responsible to, it prompts him/her to fulfill the expectations and outlined goals in a more timely fashion
- Feedback: Mentors are required to pay close attention to their mentees, which creates more opportunity for constructive feedback. This is great for mentees because they don't have to 'shoot in the dark', and can get a boost of confidence by getting specific feedback
- It identifies areas for improvement in the organization: New team members often bring new ideas to the organization. Whether it’s introducing new tools in the industry or sharing new ideas to market your product, having a different team member will generate innovation. Mentors can also learn from their mentees and find solutions to challenges in the system
Have you been mentored before? If so, what was your experience like?
