News & Articles

Tips on Effective Mentoring

by Tammy Erickson

Posted on Across the Ages: December 4, 2008 3:15 PM

Here are some principles for effective mentoring:

• Create a "gift culture." In other words, encourage anyone and everyone to give freely of their time and insight to help colleagues. Make this common practice throughout the organization. No one should require a formally assigned relationship to ask a colleague for input or assistance.
• Start with specific work needs—a project or business goal that one person has and to which the second person can contribute. This gets the initial relationship going in a comfortable, useful way. Later, if the chemistry between the two is strong, the relationship may evolve into a broader discussion of career goals and personal aspirations, but that's a hard place for most people to jump in cold.
• Put the onus on the mentee. Allow the mentee to seek out the mentor(s) if and when desired. By far, the most effective approach is to give the mentee the names of 2 or 3 people, and encourage him or her to reach out if and when input is needed—to one or to all.
• Make it two-way. In other words, encourage older employees to seek out younger employees, again with specific questions or for advice in areas of the younger employee's expertise.