It is a leader’s responsibility to provide people with the right support to do their job. The bedrock of that support can be found in the relationship between manager and employee. The best way to nurture that relationship is through frequent and regular one-on-one coaching sessions. Coaching provides the opportunity for the leader to get to know the employee as a person and how she can help the employee achieve personal and organizational goals. Coaching also begins the process of creating the next generation of leaders. As coach of Tennessee’s Lady Volunteers, the late Pat Summitt, by her own definition, is a combination of teacher, coach, and commander; she connects with her players on a competitive and personal level, pushing them (as well as enabling them) to succeed.
Mentoring is the best way we know of to share knowledge, experience and expertise throughout an organization. Mentoring pairs talented, experienced employees (mentors) with promising, less experienced employees (mentorees). Over time, working one-on-one, the mentor and mentoree – and the organization – all benefit. Benefits include:
Organization
- Enhances strategic business initiatives
- Encourages retention
- Reduces turnover costs
- Improves productivity
- Breaks down the “silo” mentality that often prevents full cooperation among company departments or divisions
- Enhances professional development
- Links employees with valuable knowledge and information to employees in need of such information
- Uses own employees as internal experts for professional development versus hiring outside consultants
- Supports the creation of a multicultural workforce by creating relationships among diverse employees and allowing equal access to mentoring
- Over time, creates a mentoring culture, which continuously promotes individual employee growth and development
Mentor
Gains insights from the mentoree’s background and history that can be used in the mentor’s professional and personal development.
- Gains satisfaction in sharing expertise with others
- Re-energizes the mentor’s career
- Gains an ally in promoting the organization’s well-being
- Learns more about other areas within the organization
Mentoree
- Gains from the mentor’s expertise
- Receives critical feedback in key areas, such as communications, interpersonal relationships, technical abilities, change management and leadership skills
- Develops a sharper focus on what is needed to grow professionally within the organization
- Learns specific skills and knowledge that are relevant to professional and personal goals
- Networks with a more influential employee
- Gains knowledge about the organization’s culture and unspoken rules that can be critical for success; as a result, adapts more quickly to the organization’s culture
