As National Mentoring Month comes to a close, it’s important to recognize the impact mentoring can have on employees at your organization. It’s no secret that employees are resigning from their jobs at an alarming rate and taking part in “The Great Resignation.” Despite this, we know how important it is to focus on the talent you are retaining. How can mentoring help organizations reduce turnover rates and retain top talent? Our internal experts weigh in. 

Read below as members of Talent Plus’ Management Consulting Team discuss why mentoring continues to be important in today’s workplace, and how it can help organizations better invest in their people. 

Learning Opportunity For Both Parties 

“Mentoring serves several purposes for the mentee and mentor and benefits the company as well.  More and more companies are looking for individuals who are lifelong learners, interested in continuing to learn and develop their skills.  With mentors, you can set goals together, determine what additional skills the individual wants to learn and work together to get there. Employees become and stay engaged which leads to less turnover, bench strength for the organization and outcomes that benefit everyone.  There is also something to be said for “reverse mentorship” with so many generations in the workplace today, the younger generations have a lot to teach their colleagues that are older than them.  They are more efficient at things such as technology, have new methods to accomplish things.”

– Christine McGuire, Talent Plus Director of Consulting

Colleague Potential Brought to Life 

“Mentoring begins a critical relationship component for a new colleague coming into an organization that has the potential to develop and deepen over the course of the colleague’s employment with a company. 

When I started at Talent Plus the individual leading our biggest client happened to be the Co-Founder of the company. That fact could have been intimidating, but her dedication to my success began the moment I started to work with her and has continued until today, almost 18 years later. She is the most remarkable leader I’ve ever known, not because of what she told me to do, but because of the responsibilities she give me. Trust was built through my fulfillment of those responsibilities. Her mantra was always, “How would you solve that problem?” Her mentoring expanded my creativity and allowed me to leverage my talents.

Mentoring is not an easy task; it takes a strong leader to delegate. It takes a leader who knows what a colleague can do with excellence and when to have them take on more. 

So why is mentoring important? Because it establishes a link between the mentor’s knowledge and the colleague’s potential. Mentors bring potential to life!”

– Mark Epp, Talent Plus Management Consultant Director 

Growth and Development of Colleagues 

“Mentoring has such a positive impact on a company. Growth and development of colleagues is certainly one, but I think another benefit that isn’t as often considered is the retention of the people in the company. I experienced this recently when I rejoined Talent Plus. I accepted the offer but then had some second thoughts wondering if this was what I wanted to do and if I could do it well. Abby Christensen stepped in as my mentor, convincing me that I could add value, something that is very important to me. Reduced turnover/better retention of talent=definitely a benefit of mentoring.”

– Barbara Henninger, Talent Plus Leadership Consultant