The Benefits of Mentorship for Employees, Leaders and Organisations 

The value of mentorship continues to be undervalued, but it remains a cost-effective and mutually beneficial development opportunity. On the individual level, mentees profit from the direct guidance and the development of new skills, while mentors can fine-tune their active listening and communication skills. On an organisational level, mentorship programs provide a cost-effective way to boost employee engagement, retention and boost overall productivity. 


Did you know? Some of the world’s most successful and high-profile leaders have attributed great value to their mentorship experiences.
 

• - Oprah Winfrey was mentored by the late Maya Angelou (author and poet)
• - The late Steve Jobs mentored Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg
• - Virgin Group co-founder Richard Branson was mentored by British airline entrepreneur Sr Freddie Laker, which helped him get his business off the ground

 

Benefits for Mentees 


While a mentorship is particularly beneficial for younger employees/graduates, a mentor can be valuable for anyone looking to build confidence and develop their skill set. Mentees also benefit in a variety of different ways, too:
 

• - Helps the mentee refine their communication skills
• - Gives the mentee an opportunity to practise receiving constructive feedback
• - Teaches the mentee relationship-building and client management skills
• - Builds the mentee’s networking confidence and wealth of contacts

 


Benefits for Mentors 


Mentors typically have a refined skill set and proven leadership skills under their belt, but that doesn’t mean mentoring can’t add value to their career. 
 

• Mentoring helps strengthen their active listening and communication skills
• Enhances their ability to build meaningful relationships
• Gives them an opportunity to practise giving constructive feedback
• Adds meaning and fulfilment through teaching and responsibility 

 

Organisational Benefits 


Put simply, mentorship programs allow businesses to capitalise on their most important resource – employees. Investing in employee development contributes to growth, innovation and bottom-line profits. Additionally, organisations can benefit from mentorship programs in other ways:
 

• - Demonstrates a commitment and care to invest in employees, helping retention and engagement
• - Improves talent acquisition efforts and reduces training costs 
• - Boosts productivity and bottom-line results