Author: Ramin Ramazanov – Director / Accounting and Audit Expert
One of the most effective ways to help new employees adapt to the workplace is through mentoring.
Mentoring is a process in which a more experienced specialist in a particular field of economic activity helps employees adapt to a new profession or position and supports their learning. The person who carries out this process is called a mentor.
In many cases, the concept of a mentor is used as a synonym for patron or tutor. However, there are small but important differences between these roles.
A patron, in a broad sense, is a person who supports and protects someone. In a narrower sense, the main role of a patron is to ensure that existing theoretical knowledge is applied in practice and that practical skills are developed in the workplace.
A tutor, on the other hand, does not provide direct training. Instead, a tutor supports the employee’s self-learning process and guides them through advice and recommendations.
A mentor differs from both a patron and a tutor. In mentoring, the learning process includes both the explanation of theory and its practical application. In a modern company, this approach becomes a system for training new employees so that they can fully perform technological or work processes. The training method used in mentoring has its own specific characteristics.
Mentoring is often confused with workplace internships. Although they share some similarities, internships and mentoring are carried out using different methods.
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The main features of mentoring can be clearly explained through the principle “Tell – Show – Do”.
Tell. At this stage, the mentor evaluates the employee’s theoretical knowledge and how they understand a specific work process. At the same time, the mentor explains the particular features of the process within the company and fills gaps in the employee’s theoretical knowledge. Strong communication skills play an important role during this stage.
Show. The mentor demonstrates how the work process should be carried out in practice. The employee is also informed about the full sequence of actions required to perform the assigned job functions.
Do. At this stage, the employee attempts to complete the task independently using the practical knowledge gained, while the mentor supervises the process. The mentor monitors the employee’s actions, corrects them when necessary, reviews possible mistakes, and evaluates the final result.
The steps described above represent only the basic framework. In practice, training within a company requires a more detailed approach, and each stage should be carefully planned.
For this reason, it is recommended to prepare appropriate training plans for new employees in advance. Such plans may be included in internal company regulations or developed at the discretion of the mentor.
Mentoring usually involves at least two participants: the employee and the mentor. Although this rule is sometimes not followed, the highest level of efficiency is achieved when the principle of one employee and one mentor is applied.
Labor legislation does not contain specific provisions that directly regulate mentoring, patronage, or tutoring systems. Therefore, their implementation depends on the decision of the employer. In practice, the human resources department of a company should prepare internal regulations that define mentoring as a part of employee training and provide the necessary legal framework.
When selecting mentors, employers should consider several important factors. A mentor should possess all of the following qualities:
In practice, mentoring can cover both the entire company and its individual structural units. In small companies, the employer may personally act as a mentor. This approach is especially common for individual entrepreneurs.
If mentoring is not properly organized in large companies, it may lead to certain difficulties. In such cases, attracting external specialists through outsourcing can be another effective way to organize mentoring services.
Accounting.Az consulting company, which holds a strong position in the outsourcing services market in Azerbaijan, can help you establish an effective mentoring system in your organization.
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