When it comes to upskilling and providing leadership and guidance to employees it is hard to see past the benefits of a mentor. Mentors provide a wealth of expertise, skills, experience, and knowledge in their area of expertise to less experienced employees. Receiving support and guidance from a mentor it is a great way to help accelerate an individual’s career development.
What is and who can be a mentor?
The purpose of a mentor is to act as a role model who draws on their experience, skills, and knowledge to provide guidance and support to a mentee, encouraging professional development, growth, and career advancement.
A mentor and mentee can come from the same industry, within the one organisation, or found within industry networks. A fundamental element of a successful mentorship relationship is to appropriately match the mentor and mentee. Personality type and personal attributes need to be considered to ensure a trusting, respectful and rewarding relationship is developed.
Benefits of a mentor
Introducing a mentorship initiative into your workplace benefits both parties and your business! Benefits can include:
Mentee
- Skill development and improved competency
- Increased confidence
- Opportunity for career development and growth
- Improved employee satisfaction
- Develop new ways of working
- Overcoming weaknesses
- Improved sense of belonging and worth within the organisation
Mentor
- Improved communication skills, such as active listening skills
- Increased confidence
- A sense of fulfillment and purpose is developed through teaching others
- Improved relationship building skills
- Strengthened leadership and management skills
- Improved sense of feeling valued
- Increased job satisfaction
Organisation
- Improved retention rates
- Attract high performing employees
- Increased productivity
- Develop talent already employed within the organisation
- Increased training and development opportunities for staff
- Improved employee engagement
- Cultivates a positive workplace culture
Whether you are a large organisation or a small business, a high-quality mentorship initiative will rejuvenate your employees and organisation. The concept of mentorship should be embedded in your workplace culture and human resources principles. If a mentorship program has not been part of your organisation’s practices, it is never too late to integrate it into your structure. Let HRTAS support you to develop a well-established and effective mentorship initiative. Contact us today on eve@hrtas.com or phone 0401 785 529.
