Three Ways Mentoring Adds Value

There has never been a better time to invest in people development. An aging workforce, young talent with high expectations and mobility, the need for leadership and the imminent skills shortage makes it imperative. You need to nurture those you want to keep and grow their capability. Mentoring is a vital strategy for people development.

Mentoring adds value by:

1. Assisting participants in learning and development programs 

Training managers as mentors enables them to support transfer of learning to the workplace. This increases the return on investment in learning and development programs. People feel valued and build mentoring skills and abilities.

2. Supporting management transition 

Managers who have been, or are soon to be, promoted without leadership training or management qualifications, need to be mentored. People who excel in their professional role may flounder if they are unsupported when they move into management.

Mentoring people doing first-level management training helps them move from operations to management. Experienced managers mentor to complement the learning experience, nurture it and provide practical support to make a successful transition.

Mentoring middle managers helps them step up to more strategic contributions. Mentoring shares the wisdom gained through broad experience and builds skills. It is a tool for succession planning.

Senior managers often need a confidante, outside the organization. Confidential conversations, with an objective outsider who asks penetrating questions, provoke critical thinking, self-appraisal and alignment with values.

3. Career development 

By providing career development workshops, supported by mentoring, people are equipped to look within the organization for the best match for their skills, interests and aspirations; identify and action development plans; or, choose a career path outside the organization. However, organizations are more likely to retain skilled and motivated people by building a culture of ongoing self-development. That’s how mentoring works!

Want to share how mentoring adds value in your organization? Comment here!