Mentors Matter:

Mentored employees are generally more productive, engaged, and satisfied with their jobs – and also more likely to get promotions and pay raises. Even better? Mentees benefit, too.

by Michael Miller

 

Mentorship at work is essential. There are myriad benefits for the mentees, the mentors, and the organization as a whole. As a thank you to all the mentors and to celebrate this critical work relationship during National Mentoring Month, we’re offering a limited time discount for both mentors and mentees on Unlocking EQ, our introductory emotional intelligence training. See below for details.

What’s happening?

January is National Mentoring Month, and to celebrate, we’re highlighting the critical role mentors play in the workplace. Mentoring, in its simplest form, is the act of transferring knowledge and experience from one person to another – with the aim of helping them grow and develop. Even though research consistently finds that it provides clear benefits to both the mentor and the mentee, only 37% of employees have mentors at work, per research from ATD.

 

Why it matters

While every situation is unique, research consistently links having a mentor to a number of positive outcomes, including higher employee retention, productivity and satisfaction. Consider these statistics:

  • 97% of individuals with a mentor find the experience valuable, and 91% say they are satisfied with their jobs – a double digit increase over those without mentors (Source: CNBC)
  • Employees with mentors are more likely to achieve promotions and pay raises. In one case study at Sun Microsystems, employees with a mentor were 5x more likely to advance in pay grade and 5x as likely to get promoted. The mentors in the study were 6x as likely to get promoted, showing the benefits don’t just flow to the mentee.

Last but not least, research has found that having a mentor seems to change even employee’s own perceptions of the value they provide:

  • Employees with a mentor are more likely than those without to say they’re well paid (79% vs. 69%) and to believe that their contributions are valued by their colleagues (89% vs. 75%) — two key components of overall happiness at work. (Source: CNBC)

As the authors of the report from CNBC/SurveyMonkey put it, “Mentorship is free, but in terms of workplace happiness, it’s akin to giving workers a salary bump.”

 

How to respond

Support employees to form mentoring relationships – both formal and informal. And, depending on where you’re at in your career, actively search out the opportunity to be a mentor or a mentee.

Plus, here’s a limited time offer: In celebration of National Mentoring Month and as a thank you to all amazing mentors out there, we’re offering a 25% (approx $50) discount on our introductory emotional intelligence training – Unlocking EQ – for mentors and mentees who attend. What better gift to give your mentee than a set of skills strongly correlated with personal and professional success?

Register here and use promo code* MENTOR50 to redeem.

*Restrictions apply: This code is redeemable for 25% off registration to UEQ course. You do not have to attend together with your mentor/mentee. This code is only valid for use on Six Seconds’ UEQ course in February or March 2023.

Michael Miller