4 Major Benefits of In-House Mentorship
Mentorship is a powerful force within the business community. When you bring together those willing to teach and those willing to learn, it incites the free exchange of information that spurs professional development for both sides. There are untold benefits to mentorship, and it’s in the best interest of any organization to cultivate mentorship opportunities and programs that bring together tenured staff and less-experienced individuals. Four of the chief benefits are:
1. Encouraging inclusion and accountability among staff
Mentorship makes new hires feel welcome, creating a strong bond between experienced professionals and new talent. Mentorship is something that transcends job duties — it’s a chance for experienced workers to go above and beyond to share their time-earned skills with those who will follow in their footsteps.
2. Improving the exchange of knowledge and skills
Being a mentor in the manufacturing space is a great way to share institutional knowledge and proven techniques and processes that will benefit the up-and-coming generation of manufacturing professionals. A good mentor helps their mentee acclimate to their job and the expectations that accompany it. Mentors who’ve been on the job for years have acquired a special set of knowledge and skills that can only be learned from hands-on experience. Passing on that knowledge helps the mentee quickly become a competent and reliable asset for the company.
3. Attracting and retaining talent by providing support
Young people entering the workforce today care about their working environment. They’re looking for a supportive, collaborative community where they feel they can grow their skills and expand their career. Establishing a mentor program at your manufacturing facility will help attract and retain talent by providing them with the support they need in the early phases of their career — when they can use it most.
4. Fostering a strong culture of excellence
Manufacturing professionals take pride in their career, and a mentorship program allows experienced workers to create and foster a culture of excellence at their facility. Good mentors can be a bridge between the needs of the individual worker and those of the organization. By lifting up the individual, there’s no telling how far the positive ripple effects can reach for the company.
How to promote mentorship within your organization
There are some simple steps you can take to develop a mentorship program, whether formal or informal:
- Pair new hires with experienced workers who can impart knowledge and skills.
- Create cross-training opportunities that encourage exchange of knowledge and abilities.
- Supplement in-house training with mentor-led workshops or seminars.
- Take mentees to visit customers to provide a firsthand perspective.
Above all, the goal of a mentorship program is to bring workers together at all stages of their careers.
