Mentoring in the workplace has many valuable advantages for both the company and the employees. it's recently become an important factor in why Millennials and Gen Zs choose a company to work for -they value the opportunity to learn and improve on the job. A mentoring program is one of the best ways to provide this type of learning opportunity.
Mentoring is an invaluable tool that aids in the development of a company’s employees. But, why is mentoring important in the workplace? And, how do you set up an effective program?
What Is Workplace Mentoring?
Mentoring is a core teaching and learning process where top employees share insights, experiences, skills and knowledge with those who are still new to the industry. It can be done in the form of one-on-one sessions or group workshops.
Mentoring plays a crucial role in the personal growth and development of an employee. Working in a team just goes beyond knowing how to work with your colleagues and understanding how to communicate with other employees. It develops an employee’s leadership skills and the skills needed to be an effective member of a team. In addition, 87 percent of mentors and mentees have more confidence and feel more empowered.
Creating a culture of learning and development improves the overall effectiveness of employees in the long run. This allows employees to understand their role and play the part required of them. It also creates a more positive work environment where employees want to work in.
Facilitate Effective Communication
A mentoring relationship with a senior and experienced employee creates a more positive work environment for an employee. An employee learns to communicate with his/her team about work goals, expectations, and other issues. By having a mentoring system that promotes good communication can avoid unnecessary layoffs. A mentoring system allows companies to onboard new hires more effectively. When new hires are acclimated better, they are more likely to perform better and avoid mistakes that could potentially lead to an exit in the form of a lay-off.
Increase Job Satisfaction
Employees are more satisfied working in a mentorship system. This is because the employees have a better understanding of the goals and the process, and the employees have a better work experience than those who do not have a mentorship system in place. The turnover rate for employees in a mentorship program is less than the turnover rate for employees who are not in a mentorship program. This is because mentees are more likely to be satisfied with their work experience, and they are more likely to fulfill their duties within the organization.
Mentoring Improves Culture
A mentorship program can create a better culture. When employees are more satisfied with the company, they are more likely to give their best. When employees feel like they are part of a team, they are more likely to work together as a team to accomplish tasks and reach goals. A mentorship program can help an organization avoid making mistakes. In this type of environment, employees are more likely to reach out for help when needed; this can help reduce mistakes.
Promotes Diversity
A well-planned mentorship program can promote diversity in the workplace. When there are more people from different backgrounds working together, employees learn from each other's different perspectives. This helps develop new skills and improve employee relationships. And when employees are more satisfied, they are more likely to be productive.
Reduce Stress and Anxiety
Mentorship programs can help employees feel more comfortable and less stressed in the workplace. Mentorship programs are like our friendships; when we feel part of a group, we feel less anxious and less stressed because we do not feel like we are working alone.
Frustration occurs when one has difficulty performing tasks and completing goals. A mentorship program can help reduce employee frustration by providing employees with a resource they can turn to when they face difficult challenges and problems.
Reduce Costs
Another positive facto of a mentoring program is that costs associated with the loss of productivity and recruiting and hiring new employees can be reduced through mentorship programs. A successful program can help reduce the number of mistakes employees make.
As employees' knowledge grows, they are more likely to solve problems on their own, which can reduce the amount of time spent on correcting mistakes. If a mentor and mentee work together on a project, both will be more invested in getting the project done properly; this can help achieve better results. For example, employees can learn how to communicate better, how to work more effectively on a team and how to manage their time and energy. Mentorship can provide useful lessons for employees on how to better apply their skills to their job.
The employees who benefit most from mentoring are often those who have been in the company for less than a year. They’re not yet as familiar with the culture or the systems of the company. The mentorship program allows them to get familiar with the culture and the systems.
Another group that does well with mentorships are young employees. They are eager to learn and do not always have the skills necessary to succeed. Mentorship programs benefit employees with leadership potential by helping them develop skills that make them more effective leaders. Several of these skills include communication and decision-making.
What Employees Make Good Mentors
The best workplace mentors are people who have had time to develop leadership skills but have not yet become leaders.
People who have been leaders for a long time are more likely to mentor employees with similar responsibilities.
They have first-hand experience with some of the challenges newer employees may face, and they can offer insights that may be useful to mentees.
They can also guide mentees through some of the challenges they will likely face in the future.
- Good communicators: The best mentors are highly skilled communicators. They can communicate complex ideas well, and they can communicate effectively with others.
- Shared interests: Employees who share similar interests with mentees can serve as mentors. This is because they are likely to be able to relate to the mentee. They can also share their experiences with the mentee, allowing the mentee to learn from them.
- Experience to share:
Mentors are usually people with much experience in their field. They have a lot of knowledge they can share with mentees.
Tips for Developing a Workplace Mentoring Program
There are a few things you need to take care of to develop a successful mentoring program.
Get Senior Management to Support the Program
Senior management’s support is needed to develop a successful mentoring program. They will be the ones to set the tone for the program and set up the framework for the program.
Know Your Team
It’s vital to know the strengths and weaknesses of your staff. You also need to know their skills level. And don’t neglect their career goals. These three pieces of information will help you successfully pair mentees with mentors.
Set Goals
Your mentoring program will be more successful if you set goals. Goals are what you want to achieve with the mentorship program. For example, if you want your staff to learn new skills, you can set goals to reach certain milestones in the knowledge gained by your staff. Or, if you want employees to bond more with their colleagues, you can have your staff work together on a project.
Get the Word Out
Make sure that your employees know about the mentorship program. Promote it in company memos, email communications or on the company intranet. You can also showcase the mentorship program at in-person meetings.
Set Up Processes for Applying, Accepting and Rejecting Mentees and Mentors
It’s important to have processes written down and available to everyone on how to apply, accept and reject mentees and mentors. You don’t want your staff to fall behind on their work because they are too busy trying to figure out how the program works.
Keep Track of the Process
You will want to keep a record of the process of your mentorship program. This includes things such as the number of mentors and mentees and the tasks each mentor and mentee has completed. You can use these records to improve the program as time goes on.
Why is mentoring important in the workplace? Mentoring can provide a range of benefits for your company, mentors, and mentees.
If you are looking for more ways to improve company culture and your onboarding process, let us help you build an Amazing Workplace. Contact us today for more information about how our surveys and solutions can help.