Clarissa Windham-Bradstock is CEO/Chief People Officer of Any Lab Test Now, a leading national retail healthcare and lab testing franchise.
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What is a mentor? Depending on your generation, the answer to this question will vary. For Boomers, mentors are those older, more-experienced folks who could guide your career path by providing direction, sound advice and networking connections. But as Gen-Xers advanced in the workplace during the onset of the digital age, mentoring took on a whole new feel. It became a shared exchange of knowledge among workers to understand the nuances of new technology. There were blurred lines between mentors and mentees because digital natives possessed a sought-after skill set that filled a much-needed gap.
Fast forward to mentoring today. It remains a relevant part of professional life, but the traditional mentoring roles have given way to a symbiotic relationship. The playing field has equalized, spotlighting skill sets and positive organizational culture. Mentoring now has a new look that encompasses personal and professional growth.
The Valuable Role Of Mentoring
Mentorship programs are vital because, with five generations in the workplace, tapping into the strengths of your organization’s talent pool achieves two goals: embracing personal talents and improving your bottom line. Let's face it—we're still dealing with lingering effects of the pandemic and the mess that came with it, like the Great Resignation and quiet quitting. Data from McKinsey and Company shows that 32% of workers are mildly disengaged, and as most leaders know, that attitude can spread like wildfire.
Reengaging your team is a deliberate effort. It won’t happen in a vacuum. Developing a mentorship plan can yield greater productivity, motivation and culture, as well as better hiring and retention rates. This is likely why "84% of U.S. Fortune 500 companies have mentoring programs."
In fact, strategically developing mentoring programs is a way to combat issues like employee burnout, retention and talent acquisition. And it appears to be working. According to recent figures from Wisdom Share, 91% of employees with mentors are happy at work. That speaks volumes.
Creating A Foundation For Your Mentorship Program
When it comes to creating your own mentorship program, you'll find that the conventional rules no longer apply. Because mentoring is seen as more of an equal exchange, rather than tenured employees leading the newer ones, the process can be as formal or informal as you choose. For example, mentorship programs can center on voluntary participation, where mentors and mentees can be intentionally matched. Or they can happen organically, with results being monitored with feedback. Here are some tangible ideas that have worked for me and generated results.
Make Space For Employees To Communicate
Have conversations with people inside and outside of professional confines. Company happy hours and fun work activities are so important because they take down walls, making team members less guarded. You may have some employees who can easily strike up a conversation with you and share their ideas and concerns, while others may not feel comfortable taking the initiative to talk to the boss.
I've seen firsthand how team members who loosen up outside the office begin to feel more relaxed and form stronger relationships with me or their colleagues. It fosters a safer space, allowing them to better express themselves and share novel ideas.
But once team members start sharing, you can't leave it there. You must do something. Encourage those ideas, and share them with the team. Give innovative employees the chance to mentor others by delivering a training, which simultaneously helps them feel valued and creates value for the organization.
Encourage, But Don't Mandate, Participation
As a more structured plan of action, invite team members to voluntarily participate in the company’s mentorship program. Make it clear that this isn't meant to just be onboarding for new hires; it's an exchange of skills that will benefit all parties. Once there's a solid number of volunteers, pair them up intentionally based on who can best support each other.
More than likely, you'll find younger workers looking to more experienced team members for career advice and assistance with soft skills. But you’ll also see reverse mentorship, where younger, tech-savvy employees share their skills with colleagues in more-senior positions. This mutual learning allows participants to set and reach personal and professional career goals.
For employees, knowing your organization cares enough to invest in them will help boost confidence and morale. It’s an internal motivator to work harder and grow, setting a track for future positions. By intentionally partnering people who want to grow, you'll foster a positive culture.
Build A Culture Of Belonging And Knowledge Sharing
Mentorship programs are vital, perhaps more so now than ever before, because they provide a sense of belonging that can become an economic driver. As a recent article from Gartner points out, it's becoming increasingly important to professionals that they can be authentic in the workplace. When people feel connected—especially through purposeful, meaningful work—their jobs stop being just the thing they do to earn a paycheck.
Creating a knowledge-sharing culture is not simply about partnering with someone who will help an employee climb the ladder. Having a mentor or a pool of mentors to discuss holistic issues creates a safe space. Employees will feel accepted and part of something, providing personal and professional satisfaction.
The Bottom Line
Understand that mentoring is no longer the older worker showing the ropes to the new kid. It has transformed into a shared exchange of talent and skill sets that improves everyone on the team, no matter their age or level of experience. Seasoned veterans have wisdom, experience and an uncompromised skill set, while the digital natives among us have indispensable talents that need to be embraced. Combining these skills through a shared mentorship program can motivate and inspire, bringing out the best in everyone and providing invaluable growth opportunities.
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