What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Mentoring?
Some advantages of mentoring a new employee in the workplace are that the mentee receives guidance from a more experienced employee on how to perform his new job functions and the employee makes less mistakes in assigned projects. There are also advantages for the employer because a well-trained new employee is more productive, states Dynamic HR Solutions. Some disadvantages of mentoring in the workplace can be when the mentor and mentee are a mismatched pair or the mentor has no interest in mentoring.
Another advantage of a mentoring partnership is that a new employee may get professional advice from a mentor on career growth and how to succeed in a new corporate culture, notes SANS Technology Institute. Mentoring partnerships also have benefits for the mentor in that he can pass on his experience and expertise and demonstrate his ability to be an effective teacher.
However, an issue that may arise from such a mentoring partnership is rivalry between the two employees, especially when they are from different generations. The older mentor may view the younger employee as being undisciplined, while the mentee may become frustrated due to the mentor being stuck in his ways, according to SANS Technology Institute. This is why it’s important to pair two employees who are compatible, so they don’t form an unhealthy work relationship.
