Some of the many mentoring benefits for individuals include accelerated learning, expanded and diverse perspectives, increased tacit organizational knowledge, additional insights about other business units, improved skills in specific areas ( for example, listening, building relationships). Mentoring also offers individuals a trusted sounding board, role model, and/or go-to individual. Individuals often say that as a result of mentoring they feel more self-aware and self-confident, connected more closely to the organization, and find work more satisfying and meaningful.
Not surprisingly, the mentoring benefits realized by individuals redound to the organization on a larger scale. Mentoring helps people meet adaptive challenges; it facilitates new learning and organizational resiliency in the face of rapid change. Because it is tethered to the organization’s culture, it contributes to organizational stability by managing knowledge and facilitating communication. When workers find work more meaningful and satisfying, retention and organizational commitment are increased, ultimately saving on the costs of rehiring.
Increased confidence results in improved performance and quality of work. Individuals become more adept at risk taking. The more positive attitude contributes to increased trust and morale. Expanded perspectives trigger more global and visionary thinking. Mentoring helps manage and maximize knowledge, connecting and pooling pockets of organizational knowledge that strengthen and speed up organizational learning.
It facilitates leadership development by building the internal capacity of its leadership. Mentoring humanizes the workplace by building relationships of head, heart and soul.
The benefits of mentoring can have profound impact on those whom an organization touches, its customers, clients or the community. The learning gained has a ripple effect because it impacts others, including those outside of the mentoring relationship. It helps people create new relationships and strengthen existing relationships; people become more collaborative in their performance and learning; and, individuals feel more prepared to offer themselves as mentors to others.
