b"5 Steps to Developing a Successfulmentoring, where a senior employee will work with a Business Mentoring Programjunior employee to help the latter learn more about their future role.By: Rachel Barton,CO Create a structured process Mentorship allows individuals to connect with and learn from someone more experienced in their field.Structure your mentoring program to ensure it runs Even smaller businesses are implementing workplacesmoothly. Will mentors or mentees apply to the mentoring programs and pairing newer employeesprogram or just be chosen? What is the duration of the with more seasoned employees to build workplacementorship program? How often will mentees andcamaraderie, helping everyone achieve their goals.mentors meet? Where will they do so and how do they record the meetings on their time sheet? For businesses that made professional development a goal in 2023, here's a step-by-step guide to mentorAlso, consider adding methods to measure the pro-employees up the ranks and improve retention.grams success. Have participants complete surveysbefore, during, and after completing the mentoringDefine the programs goalprogram to understand whether its benefiting them. If your mentoring program has specific goals (like learn-Although the concepts of mentorship are the same,ing a new program or preparing for specific responsibil-each program may have its own set of goals, so thinkities), include an assessment so you and your employees about your companys needs as well as your teamcan be sure they have gotten the most out of the pro-members strengths. If you have trouble getting teamgram. members integrated into the workforce after onboard-ing, use a mentorship program to guide them andMatch mentors and mentees welcome them to your team. If youre looking topromote some of your team members to leadershipOne of the most important qualities in a successful positions, use a mentorship program to begin mentee is a willingness to participate and an openness preparing select employees for different managerialto guidance. Some people want to figure things out on responsibilities.their own and may be resistant to a mentor. For mentors, find someone who can connect with and guide When you know your overall goal for the mentoringanother person without talking down to them or bossing program, you can zoom in on the people involvedthem around. Interviews will be especially helpful for and build the program around them. How will yougauging the personality of the applicants as well as how encourage those people to participate? What benefitthey may pair together. or growth will they be able to see for themselves in such a program? What are those individuals currentlyTo match your mentors and mentees, match the doing professionally, and what is their career mentees needs or goals to the mentors experience and trajectory?strength set. Ask your mentors what they are most inter-ested in sharing with a menteeyou can pair that with Decide on the type of mentoringwhat mentees are hoping to learn.Once you know who your program is serving andProvide training what the ultimate goal is, decide how you want the mentoring to look. Other than the more traditionalFor the most success in your mentoring program,one-on-one mentoring, group mentoring includesprovide mentors with some training and direction before three or more individuals sharing their knowledgethey start. Review the goals and requirements of the with each other since even newer employees haveprogram so they have a technical understanding of what strengths to share. Additionally, set up a group whereis expected of them. Additionally, lead mentors inone mentor works with multiple mentees.remembering how they felt when they were in the mentees position. Not only will this discussion encour-Your program can provide situational mentorship,age empathy from mentor to mentee, but it can also which is tailored around one need or goal and is notgenerate ideas of what mentors wish they knew at the meant to be repeated. If you want to focus most ontime.career trajectory and the corporate ladder, use careerCO aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on 27your individual situation."