Types of Mentoring

Within any organization, there are at least three distinct mentoring needs.

• Onboarding

• High Potentials

• Knowledge Transfer

Onboarding is the period of time and activities required to integrate a new employee. The benefits of an effective onboarding program are:

• New employees are more productive during the onboarding period.

• New employees reach full productivity faster

• New employees choose to remain at the company

• New employees refer other candidates.

High Potentials - Identify high-potential individuals who would benefit from a formal mentoring program with the following qualifications:

• Commitment to learning

• Genuine interest in professional & personal growth

• Active listening skills

• Openness & receptiveness to receiving feedback & coaching.

• Self-management skills

• Willingness to take risks

• Desire for self-fulfillment

• Willingness to develop a sense of self & personal vision.

Knowledge Transfer

• Identify what essential knowledge is at risk.

• Identify projected retirement dates.

• Determine indispensability of employee

– Single Points of Knowledge (SPOK)

– Create a position risk matrix/factor

• Create detailed succession plans for capturing knowledge including the use of mentoring relationships when appropriate.