Mentoring Program: Benefits of Mentoring
Mentoring is a timeless and ancient concept. The word "mentor" has its roots in The Odyssey by the Greek poet Homer. When Odysseus, King of Ithaca, went to fight in the Trojan War, he entrusted the care of his son, Telemachus, to his friend Mentor. In time, the word mentor came to mean trusted counselor, friend, and advisor. Mentoring is a powerful strategy for accelerating and optimizing leadership development.
The Mentor and/or Protégé both benefit from the mentoring process. A few of the benefits identified are:
- An efficient and cost-effective way of delivering corporate outcomes and achieving corporate growth while enabling more effective management.
- A Mentoring serves as a valuable tool for developing a personal investment in change and a commitment to it by supporting the staff through the fear, and into the risk taking and finally, on acting.
- Mentoring serves as an important source of guidance in the areas of professional development, research, creativity and service.
- Success of protégés in acquiring tenure and/or permanent status.
- Receiving information early on about the university and the library, receiving emotional support, getting input from supervisors, making friends and gaining confidence more quickly.
- Developing a professional relationship with an experienced librarian.
- Opportunity for self-development and enhanced self-esteem.
- Opportunity to discover answers for yourself, with assistance and guidance.
- Greater retention and workplace satisfaction of staff in the workforce.
- Leaving your mark on the Library by helping future professionals.
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