Mentoring with heart – a key to success
Mentorship has been the focus this month at Life Works Well – in fact we create a mentor culture all year round!
National Mentoring Month is an annual campaign run throughout January. Launched over 20 years ago by MENTOR - the National Mentoring Partnership and the Harvard School of Public Health, they unify and amplify the mentoring movement, celebrate the power of relationships and raise awareness about the importance of mentoring youth in the United States.
Mentoring is our passion too – it’s what gives us purpose.
Life gets busy for everyone no doubt, and sometimes we forget to take a pause and reflect.
Especially, to pay tribute to the many people in our professional and personal lives who have given or continue to give back through mentoring.
Have you thought about someone who mentored you in the past, a special individual who was or is a great role model?
Whether mentoring in the workplace, a student, a disadvantaged group, a newcomer, or an individual in the community, there is no greater feeling than sprinkling some positivity and encouragement around. Mentorship comes in many forms and often cultivates lasting friendships. Mentors also benefit as mentees bring something valuable to the relationship.
Mentors share their knowledge and expertise, treat you with respect and compassion, are great communicators, and give you valuable advice to set you up for success. They have a positive impact professionally and personally and often change the trajectory of one’s career or life-changing decision.
Mentors deserve to be lifted up too. Right?
Reflecting back, I am grateful that one of my mentors encouraged me to ask for stretch assignments which led to promotions up the leadership ranks. My mentor also told me that if your heart isn’t in it, find a job where it is.
As National Mentorship Month winds down, it’s not too late to reach out to that special person just to say thanks for being such an inspiration and for helping you to succeed.
Life works well when you do!
WHY MENTORING IN THE WORKPLACE MATTERS – HIGHLIGHTS
advances organizational, business goals and people strategies
fosters a positive heart-centred workplace culture
attracts and retains talent
promotes equity, diversity and inclusion
improves employee engagement
enhances health and well being
supports career development and strong leadership growth
increases job satisfaction and productivity
FACTS AND STATS ABOUT MENTORING
As noted earlier in one of our blog posts, HR.com and the HR Research Institute revealed in their The State of Coaching and Mentoring 2022 report that the three most cited reasons for using coaching and mentoring programs were:
To guide others in realizing their potential.
To promote diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces.
To prepare talent for future critical roles.
The report also indicated that 78% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that mentoring positively impacts individual development.
According to a recent Vanderbloemen analysis with respect to attracting and retaining top talent, these top three trends are forecasted to continue gaining traction in 2023:
Work from home will stay but will continue to subside.
Retention will become the new ball game.
The human touch (soft skills) will become the new gold standard.
MentorcliQ also recently reviewed what Fortune 500 companies are doing about mentorship in addition to over 40 other mentoring statistics. This review offers some insights and answers to some particularly important questions about why mentoring is a growing trend. Here are a few statistics to put things into perspective:
Fortune 500 – 84% of US Fortune 500 companies have mentoring programs.
Demand – US businesses lose close to $1 trillion annually due to employee turnover as the cost to replace an employee can be up to two times the employees’ salary.
Career and Skill Development – Employees involved in mentoring are promoted five times more often than those not involved in mentoring.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – 65% of workers say DEI is more important following the Black Lives Matter movement.
Racial & Ethnic Diversity – 80% of workers believe that inclusivity, sponsorship, allyship, participation, and skill-building are key drivers for DEI mentoring programs.
Gender Diversity – 70% of women who mentor other women report that they choose to mentor in order to be supportive of other women.
Millennials – 68% of millennials who stay at their organization for five or more years have a mentor, compared to just 32% of those without a mentor.
Gen Z – 82% of Gen Z individuals want supervisors to help them set goals.
Millennials and Gen Z – Millennial and Gen Z workers who have a mentor are 21% to 23% more likely to report being satisfied with their current job, compared to those without a mentor.
“The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.”
– Steven Spielberg, Film Director, Producer, and Screenwriter
MENTOR WITH HEART
Whether in the workplace or for personal benefit, my belief is that everyone deserves to have a mentor. Imagine the ripple effect if everyone stepped up to the plate? The world would be a much better place.
So, to everyone out there who is enthusiastic about improving people's lives one mentor at a time, a BIG THANK YOU!
For those who are considering joining the movement to mentor an individual in your organization, business, in the community, or starting a program, Life Works Well can help you design and implement an effective Mentor with heart™ program that‘s right for you.
Find out how we can work together to create or enhance your heart-centred people and culture strategy. Check out our website for more information and human relations resources. Schedule a call and take advantage of our complimentary 30-minute consultation. We would love to hear from you!