By Liz Belcher, CPA
Partner, Tax Services
Email Liz
With aspiring professionals graduating and summer internships starting, now is a good time to remember the importance of mentorship. When young people are hungry for a career, mentors with long-term perspectives can serve as helpful reminders to be patient and persistent.
Mentors can make a difference deeper into people’s professional paths as well. And they don’t necessarily have to be professionals in their same field.
Let’s take a closer look at the many benefits of mentorship …
Connection breeds motivation. This is true across generations and geographies, whether it’s referring to connections between leaders and employees or businesses and their surrounding communities. As people leadership expert Elisa Clements said at last year’s Australian Workforce Summit: “When Gen Z goes to interviews, they ask what the company’s purpose is. What are you doing for the community? I think younger workers really want to be connected with the client and understand how what they’re doing contributes to the client experience.”
Mentors within a company can answer those questions and help fellow employees see “the big picture” of the business’s impact. A recent LinkedIn study shows 7 in 10 employees reporting that mentorship and learning improved their sense of connection to their company.
According to Gallup research, employees with mentors are “twice as likely to be engaged and 98% more likely to strongly agree that they would recommend their organization as a great place to work.” Engagement increases productivity, and studies show that businesses with high levels of employee engagement are 23% more profitable than those with lesser-engaged employees.
Again, it’s all about connection. When professionals build meaningful, positive relationships with business leaders and mentors, they grow more confident and motivated to perform well and stick with their company for the long haul.
Mentors can also be beneficial for older employees who have been around for the long run. In a newer practice called reverse mentoring, junior employees are coaching senior colleagues in adapting to new technologies, generational differences and cultural changes in the workplace. Whether improving their digital skills, increasing their online presence or boosting their community involvement, this form of mentoring opens up seasoned professionals to new experiences and opportunities, thus renewing their sense of motivation and connection to their company.
As Dan Black, global talent attraction and acquisition leader at management consulting firm EY, said: “Effectively engaging and empowering different generations requires a nuanced understanding of their core skills and emotional intelligence. Moreover, it demonstrates a commitment to continuous learning and adaptability, benefiting everyone and strengthening the entire team.”
Whether you’re a newbie or a business veteran, the workforce is constantly changing. Therefore, it’s helpful to have role models around to guide you through it. While they’re usually fellow business professionals, they can also be friends, family members, neighbors, etc. Look to a variety of people for inspiration, whether they’re older or younger. In the end, the key to any successful business or career is an understanding of human behavior. Therefore, connecting with people is the most important step on your professional path.
If we can provide further assistance with your business or personal affairs, please call us at (317) 608-6699 or email Liz.