Why is it important to offer an effective mentoring program?
In today’s world, mentoring is a proven business strategy with the majority of Fortune 500 companies running mentoring programs of some description. Mentoring programs are offered across a wide gamut of areas such as Universities, Associations, Non Profits, and Government. The benefits of mentoring outcomes are often understated. Some of the huge advantages to consider are:
Facilitates The Transfer of knowledge
In today’s fast-paced work and learning environments, time seems to be “always the enemy”, which can lead to inefficient and low levels of knowledge transfer from senior people with tenure and vast amounts of experience to juniors and protégés. Mentoring helps to make individuals ‘stop, think and digest’ within a specific process or program.
Shows that your company or organization cares for its people!
Mentoring is partly about giving back, as well as investing in your people and their futures. It’s also about respecting and valuing existing knowledge within your company and organizations.
Mentoring Makes for a more engaged workforce or student community
A connected workforce or alumni group, sharing information and helping each other can only make for a happier overall community. Mentoring facilitates a more deeper relationship level that the ‘soundbite’ communication world which most of us find ourselves in.
Leads to Higher job satisfaction
Higher levels of job satisfaction have been reported by employees engaged in mentoring programs. Job satisfaction is rated highly by millennials, especially in today’s hectic and often stressful workplace community and educational environments.
Stimulates Employee retention
Mentoring helps employee retention by investing in your people as part of HR initiatives, along with practical support driving their career paths. It’s been well documented that effective mentoring programs help people stay longer within an organization.
Helps Encourage personal & professional growth
Mentoring can provide a confidence boost for mentees and leads to personal and professional growth alike. Learning new ideas and acquiring information should be a lifelong goal for everyone.
Facilitates collaboration
Mentoring pairs people who might not ever connect or cross paths. And it works both ways, senior and more experienced people learn from collaborating from younger, less experienced people who bring to the table the latest ideas and uses of technology,
A big benefit is Keeping both corporate and educational alumni 'in the loop'
The more you engage your employees, the more your corporate or organizational growth will become aligned with your overall mission, goals and objectives.
Benefits for the Participants
For individuals participating in corporate mentoring programs, there is the age old question “what’s in it for me?” (also known as ‘WIIFM’!). It’s no accident that mentoring relationships have been around for hundreds of years, the the benefits can be life changing.
Specific Benefits for the Mentees
* Develop larger internal networks and understanding of different functions
* Increasing job satisfaction and overall effectiveness
* Career development and a better chance of being promoted when the time comes
* Fosters a mindset of continual learning and development, a ‘muscle’ that needs to be continually flexed
Specific Benefits for the Mentors
* Enhanced personal satisfaction through developing and helping others
* Increased visibility in the organisation and expansion of networks
* Development and enhancement of leadership and interpersonal skills
* Learn new perspectives from different generations in an ever changing world
Mentor benefits:
Giving back
New perspectives
Personal growth
low cost
mentor-mentee matching
software and programme
Mentees gain:
Career advice
Industry knowledge
Personal coaching
The Starfish Parable – a lesson that applies to the core philosophy of Mentoring and Mentorship wordwide.
One morning an elderly woman was walking on a nearly deserted beach. She came upon a girl surrounded by thousands and thousands of starfish. As eagerly as she could, the youngster was picking them up and throwing them back into the ocean.
“Puzzled, the woman looked at the young girl and asked, “Little girl, what are you doing?”
The youth responded without looking up, “I’m trying to save these starfish, ma’am.”
The woman chuckled aloud, and queried, “Girl, there are thousands of starfish and only one of you. What difference can you make?”
Holding a starfish in her hand, the girl turned to the woman and, gently tossing the starfish into the water, said “Well, I am making a difference for that one!”
