How can an employee mentoring program help with employee retention?

Employee mentoring programs help protect the company's investment in the recruitment and selection of new employees-particularly for difficult-to-recruit talent and managers. Mentoring programs offer advantages for mentors, mentees, and organizations. Mentors can:

• Help new employees learn individually tailored skills and leadership abilities.

• Act as role models for new employees and help them learn the ropes in complex organizations.

• Ensure that a mentee learns a set of values or corporate priorities, including taking responsibility for his or her own career.

• Provide mentees with encouragement and networking relationships at critical career junctures.

• Provide high-talent employees with champions in executive meetings and other places where high-level discussions and networking occur.