Mentors play an instrumental role in the personal and professional development of employees at all levels within the company. The most effective place for a mentor is within the onboarding of new employees. The mentee is able to advance at an accelerated rate by-passing roadblocks that might have occurred in the first months on the job.
How to Choose Employees As Business & Workplace Mentors
Are you a leader who is developing your company’s 2014 areas of concentration in order to ensure a successful business year? I strongly advise launching a mentorship program and appointing a dedicated program manager to run it. A mentorship program both inspires current employees and instills confidence in new employees. To discover the best employees for the mentor program, focus on the top five traits shared by the most successful mentors.
#1 Commitment
Some employees talk the talk, while others actually walk the walk. Those who talk the talk and do the walk are the best mentors. They will claim that XYZ must be resolved before project 245 is finished. And they will start working across departments to make it happen within an hour. They are well-versed in every aspect of the business and are acquainted with every employee. Making themselves and the business successful is what drives their daily activities. Recruit them as your mentor! As Ace Ventura say’s in Pet Detective, “Fits Like A Glove!”
#2 Camaraderie
The capacity to connect with the mentee is the most crucial quality to look for in a mentor. This actually requires a highly skilled employee who is familiar with personality testing within the firm. a person with the ability to match the appropriate mentor and mentee. These people can be found in the recruiting or human resources departments. The company is likely well-known to others, so ask around.
#3 Discretion
The individual within the organization that can be trusted with the most confidential information has the ability to offer a place of trust for the mentee to share personal information in order to help them develop the skills wanted and required. This employee can be found listening to others with great intent with a fountain of wisdom to share when needed. “There was great difference between persons and, discretion did not always accompany years nor was youth always without it” It is best to not focus on age when seeking the employee that possesses discretion.
#4 Integrity
In order for the mentee to trust their mentor and soar like an eagle, they must be able to respect their mentor during the mentorship. The best example of a mentor with high integrity was in the movie The Karate Kid. The meaning expressed through the words of Mr. Miyagi, “Wax On, Wax Off” taught the young Daniel Son to appreciate every step within each lesson as building blocks for achieving the overall goals. Seek the employee that all others respect and ye shall find the mentor.
#5 Mindfulness
This employee will stand out from all others because their personality is infectious causing everyone around them to feel a sense of happiness and self-worth. Seek out the employee who is being kind to others and those that live by the karma codes. “People accept only that person as their leader who is radiant with good knowledge and karma.”
I hope you are able to include a mentor program in your top strategic goals for 2014. All employees are in need of direction from their leaders and find inspiration and motivation through a selected mentor.
How effective have mentor relationships been in your career development?
“The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.”
