Top 10 ways workplace mentoring can help to advance your career

Workplace mentoring can play a huge role in your personal and professional growth. When you are part of a mentoring community, you will have access to professionals who want to share their wisdom, experience, and knowledge with you, which can help you gain skills, confidence, and a close group of confidants. 

In this blog, we will take a look at some of the ways workplace mentoring can help to advance your career. Here’s what we will be covering:

• What are some examples of workplace mentoring?

• The keys to successful workplace mentoring

• What makes a good mentor?

• Top 10 benefits of workplace mentoring

What are some examples of workplace mentoring? 

The concept of workplace mentoring is a simple one. It involves an experienced or knowledgeable employee teaching those with less knowledge the skills they need to be successful. However, the way workplace mentoring is practiced can take many forms.

Here are some examples of what good workplace mentoring programs look like:

• Career mentoring. With this type of mentoring program, senior and management-level employees work with lower-level employees to determine the best career path for them within their company.

• Individual mentoring. This form of mentoring is particularly popular when it involves new hires. More experienced employees can help new hires be more successful at their new jobs by assisting them to learn some initial skills in a personalized way.

• Productivity mentoring. Popular for both groups and individuals, productivity mentoring is a form of workplace mentoring that focuses on helping employees build skills to make them more efficient and productive.

• Entrepreneur mentoring. Mentoring isn’t just for those in a traditional workplace. If you are striking out on your own and starting your own business, finding a good entrepreneur mentor could make a huge difference in the success of your business.

The keys to successful workplace mentoring

Whether you are participating in workplace mentoring as the mentor or the mentee, there are things you can do to make the process more successful. Take a look at this chart to discover some things you should do, and some you should avoid when you are part of a mentoring program at work.

What makes a good workplace mentor?

When you are looking for a good workplace mentor, there are several qualities you should seek out to ensure you will receive the guidance you need to grow. For example, a good mentor has the desire to get to know you and your learning style. They shouldn’t be focused solely on directing you as a boss would. Instead, they should also spend time working alongside you as a peer. 

Additionally, mentors should be able to help you advance in your career as well as develop good skills for your current position. Your mentor should welcome your feedback and be excited when you are successful. Finally, a good mentor  knows that advice and wisdom go hand in hand.

Top 10 benefits of workplace mentoring

The great thing about workplace mentoring is that it can be beneficial to both the mentee and the mentor. Mentors can build their own leadership skills and can also develop relationships with those around them while a mentee can learn the skills they need to advance in their careers.

If you are considering participating in a workplace mentoring program as a mentee, here are 10 of the benefits you can gain from the experience:

1. Growth support

When you are part of a workplace mentoring program, your mentor will teach you skills that will help you to grow on both a personal and a professional level. They can also help you learn how to be more productive and efficient with your work, which can also help you grow in your career and put you on the path to more leadership opportunities.

2. Personal morale

Another great benefit of workplace mentoring is that you will enjoy your work and the time you spend at work that much more. When we can make personal connections with others, it can make being at work more enjoyable. Enjoying your work and being happy with your employer can make you more productive and effective overall.

3. Skill building

Workplace mentoring is one of the most effective tools available to help you build your skills in a particular subject. In fact, with workplace mentoring, you can even begin to build more advanced skills that you might not have been able to develop without the program. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and practice your skills in a controlled environment, which can help build confidence.

4. Blind-spot monitoring

When you work alone, it’s easy to overlook some of your shortfalls and not notice the skills you are missing. With a mentor, these areas can be identified before bad habits are established. They can also help you determine the best areas for you to focus on when you are trying to build your skills.

5. Better onboarding

Starting a new job is never easy, but having a mentor from the very start can help make things easier. A good mentor can help get you through those initial first weeks at a new job or in a new position so that you learn how to do things the right way. This can help you avoid mistakes and can help ensure you are learning quickly.

6. Access to more knowledge

One of the great things about mentors is that they are a treasure trove of knowledge. Since they have already traveled the road you are currently on, they have access to information that can be vital to your success in a particular position. They will also know what types of skills you will need to learn and master to be an effective employee in the industry.

7. Stronger network

Building a network from scratch can be challenging to do when you are new to the industry. A mentor, however, usually will come with a built-in network that they can introduce you to. With these contacts, you will have access to even more opportunities for growth and industry knowledge. You may even be able to find multiple mentors that can help you along your journey to reach all of your career goals.

8. Increased leadership and advancement opportunities

Ultimately, your goal for participating in a workplace mentoring program will likely be to become successful in your career. Since a mentor will have the knowledge and skills that you need and can provide you with a personalized education and training program, you will be able to stand out from your peers and be in a position where leadership and advancement opportunities are more readily available to you.

9. Direct knowledge of your desired job

Ideally, you will be mentored by someone who is in a higher position on your job path. This means you will get an inside look into what type of work you will be doing and what types of skills you need to learn to be successful at that job.

10. Goal-setting expertise

Workplace mentoring is all about learning skills and building knowledge in the most productive and effective way possible. To accomplish this, you need to have goals. When you work with a mentor, they will be able to help you determine which goals are most important and what skills will help you most in your specific situation. That can help you save time and will make you a more valuable employee.

Regardless of the type of mentoring you receive at work, we are here to help you find the right career pathway guidance. To get started, check out our Career Path tool on our website. 

Key takeaways

1. The goal of workplace mentoring is for senior employees to pass knowledge and skills down to lower-level employees.

2. A good mentor helps you to focus on the positive, try new things, and encourages you to build your communication skills.

3. To find a good mentor, look for someone who is interested in identifying your learning style, willing to help build your career, and isn’t afraid to point out your flaws.