Is Mentoring Worthwhile?

The NFIB just posted this thought-provoking article on mentoring.

Their definition of mentoring?

• Mentoring happens when a more experienced individual guides and nurtures a less experienced employee.
• Usually, the mentor is older and has more experience with the company as well as in the job field.
• Mentoring allows the older generation to guide the upcoming one through role modeling, counseling, instructing and working to advance younger employees’ skills and capabilities.

Qualities of a good mentor?

• A mentor must be a patient and friendly person with strong interpersonal skills and effective listening ability and, of course, sufficient organizational and operational knowledge.
• The mentor must demonstrate concern for the development of others and be credible within the company.

Qualities of a good mentee (or protoge'):

• The mentored employee most successful would be ambitious, enthusiastic, open to feedback and coaching, proactive, willing to learn and willing to assume responsibility for his or her growth.

The value of mentoring?

• Mentoring can thoroughly communicate a company’s culture, values and traditions much more rapidly and completely. Mentoring can serve as an economical development tool in your succession planning process. Proper mentoring can even increase your chances of retaining its more promising performers.

BOTTOMLINE: Use a formalized mentoring program within your organization. Have it be an integral part of your people-performance management process. Mentoring is a cross-culture, cross-age, cross-functional process for continual organizational learning and improvement.