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Mentors can help with retentionBy Amanda Kramer
A. There's no question about it, says Dr. Bernie Verrill, the vice president of CEO Consulting Services in Madison: Mentors can be the key to a dynamic office environment. Verrill said there are a handful of benefits that can come from pairing up a new employee with a wiser, more experienced employee. "One (benefit) that's often overlooked is that an employee who is well mentored is about twice as likely to stay with a company long-term," he explained. "It makes sense because they build a sense of attachment and loyalty to the organization." He said a mentor relationship can also make a huge difference in getting the employee accustomed to the company's terrain. A mentor can also help employees understand new skills that are often thrown at them quickly, and help them to function better in a team environment. For a company that's new to mentoring, it can be helpful to set up a coaching program for current managers - one that teaches managers how to guide new employees through the intricacies of their jobs. Verrill said through that program, some of the managers will emerge as mentor-like figures. Use those individuals, he said, and pair them - and their personalities - with the new employee. "You may need someone (with the new hire) who's low-keyed and takes things at a slower pace," he explained. "Or maybe there's another person who needs a mentor with a higher energy level." What does a good mentor do? Verrill said there are some basic tenets of the mentor role. Mentors should have openness about themselves and they should also be able to quickly acknowledge their own mistakes. This can show the new employee that he or she shouldn't be afraid to take on new tasks - and that mistakes are just part of human nature. Mentors should model both good personal and professional development, and they should also act as a sounding board for the new employee. Mentors should also help employees identify their talents and if they're just not good at something, learn a way around the obstacle. "They may be able to help that person let go of some of the talents they really don't have," he said. "An effective mentor says 'You may not have to do everything.' " Mentors also help the new person learn how to navigate through the organization's political or cultural climate. Verrill said mentoring isn't popular among all workplaces; however, there are fields such as medicine and law where the practice occurs frequently. "It seems to me that most organizations could really benefit by creating a good mentoring system for the operations," he said. "Go look at what happens to a new hire when they come in ... they have problems orientating ... knowing what's expected of them ... boy, the mentor can do so many good things in that context." Amanda Kramer is a freelance writer who will find experts to answer your workplace-related question. kramer.news@gmail.com madison.com ©2009 Capital Newspapers. All rights reserved. |
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