What is a mentoring program for employees?

At Talent2Win we see talent management in a similar way as the art of gardening. The reason for that is that we can treat employees inside an organization as valuable and diverse plants. With the appropriate care and stimulus, these can grow and bear fruit. Therefore, we Human Resources professionals are the gardeners who must offer the right conditions so that the plants can grow strong.  

Inside this analogy, one of the most fruitful actions you can take to realize the full potential of employees is implementing a mentoring program. What do you know about it? At T2W we have an extensive experience in talent management, so we can help you. In this article we’ll delve into mentoring programs for employees, the way they work and their main benefits. 

What are mentoring programs for employees?

A mentoring program is one of the most effective means of transferring knowledge and experience for employees inside an organization. For that purpose, the company appoints a senior worker to train and enhance the capabilities of another worker. The best part is that this has a positive impact for employees as well as for the organization. 

Here we distinguish two separate roles: mentor and mentee. As you can imagine, the mentor has to be someone with experience in the company and in the professional field. On the other hand, the role of mentee usually goes to new employees, workers who are about to assume a new position in the organization, etc. 

The main objective of the program is to speed up the mentee’s learning curve. To achieve that, the mentor has to be able to convey all the knowledge and experience through a personal process. This way, employees are able to realize all their potential and apply it in the company in a short span of time. 

How does it work? 

It all begins by defining a series of goals the program must achieve. This can change depending on the purpose of the program and the type of employee the program is created for. Then, once the goals have been defined, it’s time to set the frequency of the mentoring meetings. In most cases, these are one on one sessions between mentor and mentee. However, sometimes the mentor can work with more than one person. 

Additionally, it’s important considering the personality of the people inside the program. Don’t forget there has to be a constant communication between both parties. Mentor and mentee should get along quickly. For that reason, the mentor must have a patient and friendly personality, as well as communicative and teaching skills.  

Finally, the results must be measured as with any other program implemented in the company. Since this involves training, you can conduct an employee performance analysis before the program begins and another once the program is over. Depending on the results of the analysis, you can make the necessary changes and improvements. This is an essential step for any successful program. 

Benefits of a mentoring program for employees 

1. It helps new employees to adapt quickly 

Arriving to a new company is not easy. There must be an adjustment period before the new employee can get used to the position. This process is not exactly shorts since it can take weeks or even months. The mentoring program speeds up this process. Due to its one-on-one sessions, the employees can familiarize with their responsibilities, as well as the working style and pace inside the organization. As you can see, this program can become a key part of the onboarding process. 

2. You get the best performance from employees 

Helping new employees adapting to the company is not the only benefit. Each employee inside the organization has a particular set of skills and knowledge. However, there are some companies that don’t use their full potential. The mentoring program helps workers to realize all that potential. This proves to be especially helpful with different types of internal recruitment such as transfers or promotions.  

3. It boots employee satisfaction 

Any professional wants to learn and grow professionally. In fact, about 60% of Millennials prioritize learning opportunities over other type of benefits. Through a mentoring program employees get the tools necessary to further their career. As a result, employee engagement and satisfaction levels increase. In a world where upskilling and reskilling are mandatory, mentoring can help you significantly. 

4. It increases the retention rate 

A mentoring program has a direct influence over employee satisfaction. As you know, if employees are happy with the relationship they have with the organization, they are less likely to leave it. If the turnover rate is one of the main enemies of your organization, mentoring programs could be just what you need. 

Now you know what are employee mentoring programs. We have also seen the way they work and their main benefits. As you can notice, implementing these programs could be one of the most beneficial actions for your organization. 

At Talent2Win, we strive to align your company’s business objectives with the best Talent Acquisition strategies available. If you want to learn more about the services we offer, do not hesitate to contact us.