Mentoring to Grow
Pat told me he may never become a supervisor on the team, rather he sees his biggest contribution to the team is as a mentor for the new hires. He said, “I see myself training my new boss one day.” Mentoring, or training/advising someone else, especially younger colleagues has a long tradition throughout human history. Pat may be right, for it is common for the mentee to eventually be the boss/leader of the colleagues who train them. Most people can tell you the name of one or more of their mentors, and it usually comes with some grateful and complimentary words. Many industries now have formal mentoring programs and find it valuable for speeding up the training process, among other things.
A mentoring program does not have to be difficult, and you may have already created one or are trying to decide if this is something you want to do. Mentoring really adds value to what you are doing each day. A mentoring program begins with the expectation that everyone will participate, first as a mentee and then as a mentor. It’s about investing in others. Like Pat, many mentors find the process as beneficial to them as it is to the ones being mentored. If you want to help your people find purpose and passion for their work, a good mentoring program might do the trick. As a leader, knowing you are a part of helping people become successful makes the team successful. Here are three ways it can grow your team:
- Being a mentor allows new, up-and-coming employees to grow in their leadership role. It provides a structured way for aspiring leaders to learn from experienced ones, fostering growth and development within the organization’s leadership pipeline.
- Mentoring helps leaders enhance their effectiveness by providing opportunities for self-reflection, feedback, and coaching, enabling them to refine their leadership style, communication skills, and decision-making abilities.
- Mentoring contributes to shaping and reinforcing the organization’s culture by promoting values such as leadership, serving, collaboration, and personal growth. It can build a sense of community among employees at all levels.
Pat has mentored dozens of new employees over the years. If you ask him, it’s his way of giving back and providing a significant contribution to the team. The email I got once from a former employee confirmed the value of mentoring. He gave great kudos to Pat for investing in him and helping him become a better person both at work and at home.
“We’re not just in the chicken business, we’re in the people business.”
~ Truett Cathy
Invest in the best, invest in your people.
Jeff
