The Value of Mentoring

24^th Jun 2021

‘The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.’*

Mentoring relationships, when effective, can be extremely beneficial. They allow us the opportunity to spend some time developing bonds with others without the confines of a usual workplace environment and allow us to work within boundaries that would not necessarily be employed within a friendship. This creates a unique relationship between mentor and mentee that can be of huge benefit to both.

Mentoring can often be confused with coaching but the two are very different in what they offer an individual. Coaching has a far more structured approach and is often directed by the coach. Mentoring is a softer, more flexible, relationship focused, form of guidance where the onus is on the mentee to drive the sessions forwards.

For the mentee, having time out to dedicate to yourself and your wellbeing is a big plus. How often within the working day do we find ourselves wishing for time out or for an opportunity to explore our own ambitions and personal development alongside our day job? It gives a feeling of self-worth, of value and can genuinely assist in career advancement. According to Forbes.com, mentees are shown to be promoted 5 times more often than those without mentors.

And for the mentor too, the value to being a mentor is clear to be seen. The skills required, the paraphrasing, the summarizing, the active listening. All skills that help develop us and turn us into better leaders ourselves. Indeed, in that same survey in Forbes.com, it stated mentors themselves are 6 times more likely to be promoted than their peers.

And for the organisation, the benefits of the introduction of a mentoring scheme are huge.

According to a survey by ‘mentorsme’, 67% of businesses reported an increase in productivity due to mentoring and according to a separate survey by CNBC/Survey Monkey Workplace Happiness Survey, it found that 9 in 10 workers who have a career mentor are happy in their jobs. Highlighting to management boards that to invest in their staff is to maintain a positive and productive workspace.

If mentoring sounds like an area you would like to know more about, we offer a CPD accredited course entitled ‘A Guide to Mentoring’ which can be delivered virtually for your teams and organisations. Get in touch if you would like to know more.

Invest in your staff. Invest in yourself.

Written by Lucy Howard, BulliesOut Digital Communications Officer

*Steven Spielberg

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash