Reprinted From: http://www.wiredprnews.com/2012/12/18/mentorship-survey-results_2012121832367.html
NETtime Solutions, a SaaS time and attendance software provider, has released their findings on how mentorship has affected workers after closing another successful survey on life in today’s workplace. The survey looked at those who were mentors, had been mentored or both, as well as those who had never participated in a mentoring relationship. Questions posed included why the individual engaged in mentorship, how effective mentorship was versus a formal education, and what was the age relationship of mentor to mentored.
The full findings of this survey have been published to www.NETtimeSolutions.com and can be found in multimedia format on the company’s Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/NETtime.
NETtime’s mentorship survey revealed valuable information for organizations looking to implement new training programs in response to the current skills shortage in the workplace. Based on feedback collected from mentors and mentees, a mentorship initiative could be the answer to filling the skills shortage gap. Not only is mentorship a low-cost option for businesses, 60% of those who have engaged in a mentoring relationship report that it was more effective than traditional education in their career paths.
One surprising result of the survey was that 62% of those who said they had not previously participated in mentorship had never considered it as a skill development option. Therefore, a company initiated mentorship program established for training purposes is likely to receive a favorable response.
Mentorship may also help to shorten the learning curve for some employees and lead to greater productivity. One survey respondent said that after starting a mentorship relationship, “I have become a much more disciplined individual with a way of always thinking wisely and making the best decisions in life.” When employees are productive and make good choices, businesses are bound to reap ancillary benefits.
As baby boomers stay longer in the workplace, the traditional idea of an older mentor and younger mentee is also shifting. NETtime’s mentorship survey data revealed that the amount of those mentoring people younger than themselves is about even with those who mentor an individual older than they are. This reverse mentorship paradigm is likely due to the fact that Millennials and Generation Y workers are better versed in high-tech skills that an older generation must adopt to stay competitive in the job market.
The relationship between the mentor and mentee plays an important role in the success of the relationship. There must be a basic understanding of each individual’s motivation. This will help a mentor guide their mentee in the direction in which they want to go, and at the right speed. On the opposite end, when the mentee holds their mentor in an esteemed regard, they are more likely to value their mentor’s knowledge and implement suggestions quickly.
The survey also revealed that outside of an educational value, mentorship has benefits for the mentee that are not typically discussed. One respondent who was receiving mentorship from a superior at her company while working in a business development role reported, “Mentorship gives you a look down the road you are traveling before you get to your destination. I would not have known what my life was going to be like 20 years down the road without associating with people 20 years senior in their careers.”
For those interested in more details on how mentorship is being used in the workplace today, please visit NETtime’s Facebook page. Here you can also take their current survey that takes a look at higher education and the effectiveness of different learning methods.
Reprinted From: http://www.wiredprnews.com/2012/12/18/mentorship-survey-results_2012121832367.html