Mentoring
Obviously older workers have a whole lot of experience they can pass on to younger workers. How many of the companies you work with have schemes in place to enable such knowledge transfer between the generations? Do you currently mentor younger people?
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None. And I don't mentor anyone, either.
I've always found mentoring a bit strange, to be honest. If you I wanted to learn more about something, I'd read about it and/or go on a course. I don't think I'd seek to find a mentor but perhaps I'm missing a trick.
Paul
I have mentored my whole team at some point over the years, from new starters to an experienced employee.
I was mentored when i first became a manager and it gave me the confidence and ability to do my job successfully. i read, go on course but some times you need the 1 to 1 time with some one who has "been there done it"
In my case, I started out with an online business in '93. Nobody had been there and done it (not that exactly, at least) back then, so maybe that's why I've never really seen the benefit...
Paul
We don't have a mentoring scheme in the formal sense of the word, but we certainly do as much as possible to enable tacit knowledge to transfer between workers.
Paul, in knowledge management circles, you have two types of knowledge: tacit and explicit. Explicit is that which can be written down, so you going on a course will fall under that. Tacit is much more informal and often includes things we know but don't know how to explain very well. A bit like riding a bike. This kind of knowledge is best shared by talking to someone, showing them the skill etc.
It's said that the vast majority of knowledge in an organisation is of the tacit kind so it is absolutely crucial that there are good means of allowing staff (and other stakeholders) to talk and share knowledge. It's then up to the company to try and document all of this and turn it into explicit knowledge so that it isn't lost when staff move on.
I suppose I do both tacit and explicit, but neither in quite the conventional way. I don't tend to go on courses, but I do learn an awful lot from 'written' online sources. I don't get tacit knowledge from any kind of mentoring, but I do speak quite a bit (often online) to peers and garner all kinds of tips that way. I suppose I'm fulfilling both, but perhaps neither conventionally. :)
Paul
I have been mentored over the years and when learning new skills, still seek mentoring. I mentor my direct reports and seek to transfer as much knowledge as I can to give them the edge so much needed these days in order to progress. I also mentor externally as a Chartered Manager and enjoy this very much. I do not seek to impose myself on anyone, rather offer my services, help and support.