Mentoring Hits the Mark

I conducted a Speed Mentoring: Pairing Up session last week, and it occurred to me how important mentoring is to an organization’s growth and employee engagement, especially during a budget crisis.  (Speed Mentoring: Pairing Up is the way that I provide an opportunity for Mentees to meet with at least three prospective Mentors in pursuit of finding a suitable match.)  I had several participants mention to me that they are really getting a lot from the mentoring program that I develop and manage.  They expressed that they are not able to go to training because of the budget, so the mentoring events that I provide allow them the opportunity to still enhance their knowledge, develop their skills, and learn from others through networking.   

Mentoring is the perfect way to provide…

·       No cost targeted learning events.  It’s one of the most cost effective ways to motivate and inspire people and help them grow.

·        A pool of internal talent sources.  You don’t have to hire a contractor because people share their own knowledge, skills, and experience.

·       Opportunities for share knowledge across an organization.  People can learn about other areas of an organization.

·        Assistance to new employees as they acclimate to the organization.  You could have more experienced employees mentor new employees to help them learn how to navigate the organization and building.

·         Networking opportunities.  Create ways for people to meet people whom they wouldn’t ordinarily talk to or interact with.

If your company is experiencing a budget shortfall, consider establishing a mentoring program.  If you already have a mentoring program, re-evaluate it to look for ways for meeting employee learning and development needs through expansion.  When designed properly, based on organizational needs, there is no doubt that Mentoring Hits the Mark.