The Best Ways to Find Mentors Within Your Organization

On the importance of mentoring in business, CEO of the Virgin Group, Richard Branson, said: “Building a new business takes more than technological skills and creative genius—it needs people, and if you’re going to create a great culture as well as a great product, those people need tending to in a plethora of different ways.”

Like Branson, many of the most influential business professionals today have attributed their success to having a mentor. For less seasoned employees, mentors can provide invaluable advice, professional guidance, and help navigating the complex world of business. Although finding the right mentor within an organization can be challenging, it can also be mutually rewarding and beneficial for both individuals—and even for the company as a whole.

Employees with mentors are not only more engaged at work, but they are also far more likely to stay with the organization. According to a Deloitte survey of millennials, employees planning to stay with an organization for more than five years are twice as likely (68 percent) to have a mentor than not. In a culture where employee turnover is rampant—in fact, it’s the highest it’s been in more than a decade—employee retention is more important than ever. The same survey revealed that in an ideal workweek, millennials would like to see significantly more time devoted to discussing new ideas and ways of working, coaching and mentoring, and the development of their leadership skills.

Along with other helpful approaches, mentorship within the organization is an excellent way for employers to boost employee engagement, establish a great work culture, and retain company talent. However, for some, finding a mentor might be a lot easier said than done—especially for new hires that have yet to establish relationships with other team members.

Finding Mentors in the Modern Era

Technology plays a big part in helping employees identify who’s who in the organization, communicate internally, and learn the company structure. Although there is certainly value in connecting offline, it can be challenging to find the right mentor—at least without a resource to help point you in the right direction. Modern org chart software does just that. By leveraging live org chart technology, employees can locate potential mentors within the organization, learn more about them and their unique skill sets, and connect with them directly. Here’s how:

Helping Employees Put Faces to Names

Finding the right mentor starts with knowing those you work with. Modern org chart software offers an interactive opportunity for employees to put faces to names and collaborate internally. This technology takes the initial concept of an org chart much further, offering employees a chance to create personal profiles that feature both fun and useful information. Employee profiles can display several professional details, such as names, job titles, profile photos, skill sets, and specialized training. A profile can also include personal information, such as an employee’s interests and hobbies, favorite sport teams, where they’re from, and other fun facts.

Org chart software allows individuals to peruse employee profiles, learning about their key skills and areas of expertise. This can help guide employees toward potential mentors that have a similar career trajectory to their own. This is especially helpful for finding a suitable mentor, because employees with similar career paths are the most likely to have valuable information to share with a mentee.

Understanding the Organizational Structure

Of course, it’s always helpful to see the bigger picture. Live org charts can help employees visualize the organization’s overall structure, making it easier to understand who sits where within the company. By seeing where certain individuals fall within the organization, employees can identify specific team members who would be the most likely mentors based on their specific roles and unique skill sets.

Understanding the structure not only helps employees locate potential mentors, but also determine their own individual career paths. Doing so will also boost employee engagement, because today’s employees consistently express the importance of having a defined career path and growth opportunities at work. A Gallup poll found that 87 percent of millennials (and 69 percent of non-millennials) view career growth and development opportunities as very important to them in their jobs. Modern org chart technology can help employees envision their career trajectories within the organization—which is a clear benefit for employers that are looking to retain talent and improve employee engagement.

Increasing Internal Communication

As with anything else, clear communication is essential when you’re looking for a mentor. However, internal communication is a known pain point for many in the workplace. In a survey by The Economist, 63 percent of respondents expressed that having a wider range of communication tools would significantly improve their work communication. Org chart software is an extremely useful tool for improving internal communication—and this includes communication with potential mentors.

With access to employee systems and communication tools, employees are much more likely to engage with potential mentors. Communicating and having the ability to ask questions is essential when it comes to locating a potential mentor within your organization. In some cases, an employee may find a potential mentor, but have no easy way to contact them. Org chart software provides easy-to-access contact information for every employee in the organization. This greatly simplifies the internal communication process by eliminating the need for employees to hunt down contact details in order to reach out to potential mentors.

With modern org chart technology, employees have the opportunity to connect with anyone at the company—regardless of where they sit in the organization. Technology also introduces an opportunity for employees to find remote, digital mentors. For example, there may be an employee in another office location who would make an excellent mentor. Although this would have created a problem in the past, technology has eliminated locale as an issue. Org chart software has the ability to bring employees together and build camaraderie, no matter where they’re dispersed. (This is also very valuable for helping remote employees overcome obstacles, connect with their peers, and feel more part of the team.)

Each employee within your organization can benefit from having a mentor to help guide his or her career. Having a mentor to turn to for career advice, feedback, and learning opportunities can significantly improve the employee experience. This not only leads to a more positive work environment, but also decreased turnover and improved employee engagement.

Although finding the right mentor within an organization is still a challenge for most people, technology is changing the game and introducing new ways of connecting internally. Modern org chart software has made it much easier for employees to identify potential mentors, quickly locate their contact information, and begin building meaningful relationships with more seasoned members of the organization.

Are you curious about live org chart software and how it can improve employee engagement at your organization? Sign up for a free Pingboard account today and start taking advantage of the many benefits that modern org chart software has to offer.