"People who learn more on the job are far less likely to quit," says Rich Meiss, which can provide some great insight for companies who are seeing much higher turnover than in years past.
This is one reason Rich, a senior training consultant with The Bob Pike Group, developed Mentoring for Success, a program that encourages an informal relationship that provides career guidance. Recently, several organizations, private and public, have seen the benefits of mentoring relationships and have sought to strengthen mentoring within their organizations as a way to develop and retain talented workers.
In recognition of this program, “the Minnesota National Guard chose the Mentoring for Success program as their model to support the Adjutant General's main goal of developing a 'competent and ready force'" in 2013, said Rich, who began working with the organization on an initial version of the program in December 2010.
Rich and The Bob Pike Group were honored by Sergeant Major Erik Arne for their efforts in moving this effort forward. When presenting the certificate of commendation, CSM Arne said, "Your design and delivery of mentoring techniques for the Minnesota National Guard Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Mentor Program has been vital to its successful implementation. Your professionalism and dedication has enhanced the development of both Air and Army National Guard Senior Non commissioned Officers."
The program is still being brought to non-commissioned officers throughout the organization as a way to transfer skills and knowledge from generation to generation. Rich noted that the cross-training from one generation to another is one of the program's key benefits, as a number of the senior non-commissioned officers are baby-boomers tasked with teaching a group of primarily millennials to become effective leaders. The Mentoring for Success program details a number of strategies to bridge the distance between these generations, allowing boomers and millennials to embark upon a productive relationship.
Although the mentees and the organization are the primary benefactors of the mentoring relationship, productive mentoring relationships are always mutually beneficial for all. “The baby-boomers of the Guard can benefit from the millennials' technical knowledge, while the millennials benefit from the boomers' experience,” said Rich.
Although a mentorship is typically an informal relationship, the Minnesota National Guard seeks to formalize their mentorship program to ensure their non-commissioned officers develop into competent leaders. According to Rich, “The long-term goal of this program is that 'formal mentoring becomes the norm for non-commissioned officer development throughout the Minnesota Army and Air National Guard.'" Currently the guard is on its way to its vision, as several senior officers have completed the two-day program. Two Army Guard members have also been certified to conduct the program. The Air National Guard and Warranty Officers are also looking to certify officers to deliver this program to their ranks.
To learn more about Mentoring for Success, click here or call us at 1-800-383-9210. GSA pricing is available.
by Jordan Meyers
