Gregory P. Smith
A mentor is
someone who serves as a counselor or guide. Being asked to serve as a
mentor is an honor. It indicates that the company has faith in the
person’s abilities and trusts him or her to have a positive impact on the
career and development of another person.
Many
companies have discovered mentoring for new employees not only helps
employees settle into their job and company environment, but also
increases employee retention. The use of a mentor may be an informal,
short-term situation or a more formal, long-term assignment.
In an
informal mentoring program, the mentor helps the new employee for a
limited period of time. Advice from the mentor may include the most basic
of information about everyday routines including tips about “do’s and
don’ts” not found in the employee manual to helping the employee learn job
responsibilities. A mentor available to answer routine questions also
saves time for the supervisor or manager. In addition, new employees
often feel more comfortable asking questions of a mentor instead of a
supervisor.
In a program
of this type, mentors often are volunteers. Forcing someone who does not
want to serve as a mentor to do so can quickly create problems.
Obviously, someone with a negative attitude, who might encourage a new
employee to gripe and complain, should not serve as a mentor.
A more formal
version of mentoring occurs when an organization appoints an individual
with extensive knowledge and experience to serve as a mentor to a new
professional the company feels has excellent potential for growth. The
mentor’s role usually lasts for an extended period of time and may not end
until the person mentored reaches the level of the mentor.
Whether
informal or formal, both parties need to understand the parameters. These
may be more important in a long-term, formal mentoring situation, but can
also influence the success of short-term, informal mentoring.
·
The mentor’s role is to teach and advise the new employee.
The mentor does not interfere with the supervisor or manager’s decisions.
The new employee, while expected to seek the mentor’s advice particularly
on critical issues, is not bound to accept that advice.
·
Confidentiality is important. Both parties need to feel
confident that discussions remain between them--not immediately relayed to
a supervisor or manager.
·
Certain areas may be considered off-limits. The mentor
needs to outline these areas at the beginning.
·
Decide in advance how you will communicate. Will you have
regularly scheduled meetings? Will discussion be face-to-face, over the
telephone or even via E-mail. Both parties need to make their preferences
known at the beginning and reach an acceptable compromise if the
preferences are different.
·
Discuss time limits. If the mentoring period has a time
limit the mentor should state that at the beginning.
·
Discuss time commitments. Again, this may be more critical
for the long-term, formal mentoring. The mentor must expect to give the
new employee adequate time, but the newcomer should not expect excessive
amounts of time. Setting a schedule at the beginning (example: meet once
a week the first month, then once a month after that) avoids irritating
misunderstandings later.
·
Openness and respect: Both the mentor and the person being
mentored need to be open and honest, yet respect the other. A mentor who
withholds important information or comments does not contribute to the
other person’s success. However, such comments should be delivered with
tact and courtesy--and (even if somewhat hurtful) received with an open
mind.
·
Professional relationship: The relationship between the
mentor and his or her protégé is a professional one, not a personal one.
This is particularly important for the new employee to understand.
·
Compatibility: It would be helpful to use some kind of
behavioral survey/profile on
both the mentee and mentor. This will help both understand each other’s
communication styles, strengths, and limitations.
Please contact us if we can help you design a
customized mentoring program for your organization.
Greg Smith is a
nationally recognized speaker, author, and business performance
consultant. He has written numerous books including his latest, 401
Proven Ways to Retain Your Best Employees. He has been featured on
television programs such as Bloomberg News, PBS television, and in
publications including Business Week, USA Today, Kiplinger's, President
and CEO, and the Christian Science Monitor. He is the President
and "Captain of the Ship" of a management-consulting firm, Chart Your
Course International, located in Atlanta, Georgia. Phone him at
770-860-9464. More articles available: http://www.chartcourse.com
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