How To Be An Effective Mentor

Experienced employers and employees sometimes take the role of mentor to new staff members. They are ideal candidates for such a job because they have knowledge about how to succeed. There are several factors involved in effective mentoring. Understanding them can help mentors show new workers the ropes.

Basics

It is important for mentors to provide basic information to start with, rather than plunging headlong into complicated tasks a new employee may find difficult. It can help if mentors remember what it felt like when they began work. Recognising that tasks they find easy may have been hard to handle in the beginning can result in them making sure they do not rush when it comes to providing tuition.

Praise

Praising new staff being mentored can encourage them, as well as show them they are heading in the right direction. Trainees look to their mentors for guidance and telling them when they are working to a high standard can be helpful.

Criticism

While praising employees being trained is an effective way to encourage them to flourish, criticism may not be taken well. Mentors can let them know when they make mistakes so they are not repeated. However, doing so in a tactful manner, rather than making criticism sound personal, can help trainees take feedback onboard.

Role model

Mentors can demonstrate useful skills required by trainees by being good role models. Showing them how to complete tasks can be more useful than talking about how to do so.

Questions

Trainees learning new skills usually have questions. Answering them with clarity can help them succeed in their new role quickly. Mentors can encourage them to ask questions by letting them know queries are welcomed.

Patience

Calm, patient mentors are likely to be good teachers to employees learning how to carry out a job. Not hurrying or being averse to repeating guidelines if necessary can make mentoring more effective.
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Good mentors are able to deliver criticism without being personal. They are calm and collected, even when they need to repeat themselves and demonstrate how work should be done. They praise trainees, as well as gradually taking them systematically through procedures without being impatient.