Creating a Climate for Diversity: Tip #9 – Mentoring Works

Provide a mentor for every new employee. Mentoring is a series of conversations between a mentor and a protege that is designed to enhance the protege’s overall development. When done effectively, mentoring offers several benefits for new employees including an increased likelihood of personal and professional success, greater awareness of organizational politics and culture, improved job satisfaction, and an increased commitment to the organization. Here are a few tips to ensure your mentoring program is successful:

1. Make sure there is top management support and commitment in terms of financial and time resources.
2. Make sure there are well respected organizational leaders who are willing and able to serve as mentors on both a formal and informal basis.
3. Create a specific strategy for selecting and pairing mentors and proteges. 
4. Provide formal training that will help mentors and proteges develop the skills they need to make the process successful.
   

Next Post: October 10, 2013 – Creating a Climate for Diversity: Tip #10