The Value of Mentorship in Business
2015 Issue 2 | GearedUp
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mentor is an individual who
actively and willingly passes their
knowledge and wisdom onto
another person. Businesses are increasingly embracing this practice as a professional development tool used to internally
grow their employees. Through mentorship, organizations are achieving dramatic
improvements in efficiency, productivity,
recruiting and retention. It also aids in
helping employees navigate new organizational cultures while providing a
cost-effective way to ensure the passing
of institutional knowledge and leadership
skills from one generation to the next.
Mentorship relationships also make
people feel valued and that there is an
investment in their learning and development, a trait highly sought out and valued
among the millennial workforce. In a
sense, mentorship, when implemented on
an organizational level, increases the likelihood that a business will not only retain
employees, but will also foster leaders at
a more concrete rate than without such a
practice.
However, like any other relationship, it takes work on both sides to make
mentoring work.
How to Find a Mentor:
Mentors can be anyone; whether it be
a friend, a coach, a teacher, a supervisor,
someone older or younger and so on.
However, the one common denominator
and defining characteristic of a mentor
is this: They have more experience in the
specific area in which you are looking
to succeed. The following lists a few
key points to aid in your quest to find a
mentor and remain confident throughout
the process.
Know what you want. The first
thing you need to know when seeking a
mentor is what you’re looking for from
the arrangement. Determine your specific
expectations and the role you want a
mentor to play in your career. Clarifying
your objectives, goals and expectations
will ensure that you find the right mentor
and that the relationship benefits your
professional goals.
Think outside of your walls. The
right mentor may very well be found in
your office, or they may be located several
cities over. However, it helps to have a
mentor you can meet in person as this
allows for a seemingly more organic and
intimate professional relationship, which
is what a mentorship aims to foster.
Seek out potential
mentors at business associations,
community groups
such as busiby Kristen Perez
ness chambers of
commerce or rotary clubs.
Set up a meeting. Set up an
informational interview with each of the
possible mentors you have in mind to
discuss a possible mentoring relationship.
The location of the meeting should be
somewhere that is mutually comfortable
to allow open and confident communication. Also, do not let yourself be blinded
by personal chemistry versus professional
chemistry and how well that individual
aligns with your goals. Keep in mind that
it may be beneficial to have more than one
mentor. If you fear that you may be taxing
on your mentor’s time, then multiple
mentors may be the answer.
Be clear with your mentor. Once
you have found someone who agrees to
be your mentor, make sure you share the
same commitment to your expectations.
Be clear on the time required and the