Mentorship programs in the workplace have long been a substantial way to create motivation, guidance and skill amongst employees at no additional cost. It is important to continuously invest in your employees, and a mentorship program is one plausible way of doing so.

If you are not currently using mentorship programs in your current business practice, consider the following advantages of doing so.

• Employees have a direct contact to turn to when they need help. While a mentor is not there to do an employee’s work, they can serve as a guiding tool in their position. A mentor can help demonstrate the correct way of completing tasks and offer positive criticism.
• Having a mentor can help employees, especially new employees; feel less isolated in the workplace. A mentorship helps employees create relationships with one another. This relationship allows new employees or isolated employees to feel comfortable in their work environment knowing they have a consistent resource for guidance and help.
• As an employer, mentorship programs are a low- or no-cost resource that helps increase employee productivity. Mentors are there to guide employees on how to do their job efficiently. Efficiency eventually translates into productivity – a benefit to the success of your company.
• Employees within a mentorship program often feel increased job satisfaction. An increase in job satisfaction with employees often decreases turnover. It also helps create a more positive work environment for the team as a whole.
• The mentors benefit by gaining a sense of confidence in their own skills. Being able to guide a fellow employee to success gives the mentor a sense of purpose and self-assurance.

Mentorships within the workplace are an all-around positive experience for everyone and can provide many advantages. Considering the positives of such programs, you may want to implement this great tool if it is not currently included in your business plan.