Mentoring successful careers Datamation Nov, 1999
since November 23, 1999, last modified November 23, 1999
How to make formal mentoring work at your company
- Match participants on the basis of skills and need. A personality fit isn't as important. For example, a mentor with proven communication and presentation skills is matched with a prot??interested in learning those skills. Whether their personalities are compatible isn't significant. Learning the new skill takes priority.
- Build in accountability and commitment--ensure that all participants understand their roles and responsibilities:
- Mentors-prot?? need to regroup within two weeks of their initial meeting.
- A joint mentor/supervisor/prot??meeting is held within one month.
- An action plan is finalized the first month.
- Oral status/activity reports are given at follow-up meetings.
- Start with a pilot program and expand after you have been successful.
- Evaluate the program's impact to justify any company expenditures. One suggestion for a quick evaluation is to compile a prot??s accomplishments in a "yearbook" and share it with senior management and other appropriate parties.
Knowledge & Engineering Databases ¨Ï copyright Namchul Do, 1999