Mentoring in the Workplace: How a Little Guidance Goes a Long Way

Are you a CEO, VP, or Manager looking into initiating mentoring in the workplace? Good for you!

Too often, employees feel dissatisfied at their jobs.

The reasons will vary from company to company, but many times these are obstacles that can be overcome with a little open communication. You may be thinking, why is it up to me to create a dialogue?

Well, it can be easy to forget how intimidating it is to speak to your boss! Putting time aside on your calendar to catch up with team members helps to spearhead any problems they may have. By doing this, you avoid a situation snowballing into something beyond repair.

Below are 4 reasons why mentoring in the workplace can benefit your company.

Mentoring in the Workplace: How a Little Guidance Goes a Long Way

Sets clear expectations for employees.

These meetings are a chance for your reps to ask questions and gain insights based on your experiences. Additionally, they're also a great opportunity for you to communicate expectations.

With every piece of advice, you offer direction—something extremely valuable to team members.

Fosters a supportive work environment.

A company’s culture is crucial to the betterment and success of the team. With that said, lack of communication suggests an indifference towards the growth of your employees.

Offering your mentorship demonstrates that you:

1. Are aware of your employees
2. Value them
3. Will advocate for their success

All of these factors aid in promoting a supportive work environment.

Leads to an engaged workforce.

Mentoring proactively encourages your employees to think about their careers. Furthermore, it shows them what steps to take now in order to help them in the future.

Additionally, more face-time with you will make your employees want to meet your expectations. Building a relationship with your mentee helps bring them into the fold of the company.

Employee satisfaction/ retention.

Putting time on the calendar to meet one-on-one to discuss goals with your employees is a great opportunity to prove you value them as more than just staff members. When people know that their voice is being heard, they feel valued.

Simply put, a valued employee is a satisfied employee, and a satisfied employee will want to grow within their company that appreciates and respects them.

If it’s not already a part of your company, set up a mentorship program where executives get involved.

Ultimately, mentoring in the workplace helps your employees grow and learn and has many positive effects on the company. Who knows, you might even learn a thing or two yourself!

Have any more ideas on how you can add mentoring in the workplace? Let us know in the comments!

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Nora is a Research Analyst with a focus in entertainment media. Currently at Discovery Communications, she supports the Ad Sales team by providing consumer insights related to audience behavior. Nora graduated from the Fordham Gabelli School of Business with a Bachelors in Marketing. Connect with her on LinkedIn.