Mentoring Program Overview - Sample
Texas A&M is committed to its employees. However, due to its size and complexity, employees are often overwhelmed and need to partner with a seasoned employee who can provide their insight and perspective.
Program Overview
The primary objectives of the program are:
-To help new and less experienced employees successfully transition into their position
-To help experienced employees enhance their career potential or identify new career paths
This is a voluntary program whereby mentees are paired with mentors according to various areas of interest.
Benefits to the Mentee
A mentoring relationship will provide numerous advantages to the mentee. Possibly most importantly, they will acclimate more quickly to the organization’s culture and expectation. This understanding will be critical to success. Mentors will also be able to provide mentees with professional contacts which generally take a while to develop. Furthermore, mentees will receive insider assistance on procedures, thus decreasing the frustration coming from learning through trial-and-error. Mentors will also provide mentees with feedback on skills, technical abilities, and knowledge relevant to their current success and professional growth. Not to be underestimated is the social relationship likely to develop between mentor and mentee. There is a sense of reassurance derived from having a companion to whom the mentee can share thoughts, test ideas, clarify issues, and vent frustrations. The mentor will be able to provide encouragement when the mentee is experiencing stress and uncertainty—time when support is most needed.
Benefits to the Mentor
It is not just the mentees who benefit. Mentors, themselves, will also receive significant benefits. Being recognized as a role model by peers is motivating for many. Mentors will be able to use this liaison to expand their own knowledge by gleaning from the experience, talents, and skills a mentee brings to the organization. In fact, mentoring should be a reciprocal partnership where each party learns from the other. Mentors will also be able to use this relationship as an opportunity to develop their skills in such areas as interpersonal communications, teaching, and providing feedback.
Benefits to the Department/University
Finally, there are numerous benefits to the University itself for establishing a mentoring program. For one, providing a level of oversight to the mentor/mentee pairing will ensure mentees obtain guidance and direction from successful employees who embody the appropriate organizational culture and values. The mentors will help walk the mentee through the organization’s business practices and help with any confusing policies and procedures, thus resulting in increased productivity. Mentoring is also a cost-effective method of providing development. Furthermore, improved retention of employees should result since mentees will be more likely to experience success.