2. The benefits of mentoring

According to research, over three quarters of organisations who have some form of mentoring process in place state that their schemes bring significant benefits – but what exactly are these likely to be?

Activity 2.1

Thinking from the point of view of the person being mentored, list the key benefits that they can gain from the mentoring process.

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The key benefits typically encountered by mentees include:

  • Access to someone who can provide a source of support during difficult times, such as being new to a business, undergoing assessments, undertaking a new role within the organisation or looking to take the next step on the career ladder.
  • Access to a person who can be a sounding board to test out potential new ideas and approaches.
  • Increased motivation, confidence and self-awareness that helps build performance and contribution and puts people in a better position to be able to take on new challenges.
  • Development outcomes that may include knowledge, technical and behavioural improvements.
  • Developing wider network of influence – a mentor might, for example, introduce their mentee to potential new contacts.

Although many of the apprentices you encounter may bring with them significant workplace knowledge and experience, there may also be employees who are at the early stages of their career.

As such, these employees may particularly benefit from having this additional level of support in place to help them fit into their workplace and develop into their role, something that can be effectively provided through a strong mentoring relationship.

To listen to a real world example of how someone benefited from the support and experience of having a mentor, watch the short video, entitled “The Power of Mentoring”:

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https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Atme26C0l5E&t=25s [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)]

Activity 2.2

Now thinking from the point of view of the organisation, how do the benefits felt by those involved in the process translate across the wider workplace?

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The potential benefits that might be gained by the wider workplace as a result of an effective mentoring programme include:

  • Significant impact on recruitment and retention – research suggests that effective mentoring reduces the first year loss of new employees by two-thirds.
  • Increases productivity through better engagement and satisfaction.
  • Effective succession planning – mentees are given the chance to develop their skills, something which can help to prepare them for progression into different and higher roles within the organisation.
  • Creates an environment where people gain wider skills.
  • Provides the opportunities for employees to stake a greater investment in the long-term future of a business.

1. What is mentoring?

3. Why be a mentor?