Thinking About Workplace Mentorship
My team and I have been doing a lot of thinking about what the post pandemic workplace will look, and more importantly, function like. Of specific interest to us has been looking at the anticipated impact of Workplace Mentorship in the Post Pandemic Workplace. This is what we’ve learned…
Today’s workplace may be unrecognizable to the one’s pre-pandemic, and it’s likely naïve to believe that future workplaces will ever again mirror what came before. The pandemic drastically altered the workplace by significantly accelerating a transformation to a hybrid work model, and this rapid change needs to be carefully handled.
Working remotely has been a significant adjustment for many, and its effect on our professional relationships has been just as significant as the impact on daily tasks. For many people, the lack of connection poses considerable challenges.
How does one learn best practices for career success when you’re working alone from home?
How does one build the professional relationships that are critical for survival and advancement?
How does one develop and engage with their professional network?
On the organizational side:
How does the business build a culture that supports initiative?
How does the business effectively support employee growth and development?
How does the business make employees feel engaged, valued, and recognized?
Implementing a workplace mentoring program is a smart initiative for addressing and aligning the interest of individuals and the organization. When interests are in sync individuals and organizations flourish.
Research clearly highlights the positive impact of mentorship in all work environments.
New talent consistently reports mentoring as very important to their career development.
Employee retention is increased as mentorship supports employee development, progression, and job satisfaction.
In talent recruitment, mentorship can build talent pipelines and provides access to those who may not be identified through traditional recruiting.
As the hybrid work model grows, mentorship will play a critical role in supporting initiatives and positioning organizations for growth. Hiring mistakes and poor employee support are always detrimental, but a strong mentoring program helps avoid both.
And here’s some useful things we’ve identified that you should think about, if you’re planning to implement a workplace mentorship program:
How will you efficiently and effectively connect the right Mentor to the right Mentee?
How will you ensure your Mentor | Mentee connections engage in meaningful interactions that result in mutually beneficial outcomes
How will you manage the time required to create & deploy your mentorship program, onboard participants, and make & manage connections?
