What is Informal Mentoring in the Workplace?

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Informal Mentoring in the Workplace

We all require formal or informal mentoring to get through in our lives, whether we realize it or not. While it’s a requirement in all areas of our lives, here we will concentrate on workplace mentoring. Without such guidance, employees are often in a place of confusion and lack of futuristic vision.

On the other hand, studies show that employees with mentors are more competent, receive better support, have a clearer vision, harbor more self-awareness, and succeed in their jobs quickly.

As per a research by The Atlantic, more than 70% of Fortune 500 corporations have mentorship programs. Staggering statistics, is it not? We think so too. That’s why having mentors to guide less-experienced employees is essential in the modern-day workplace environment.

Even if your organization lacks a structured mentoring program, there are still methods for leaders to serve as mentors for their employees. Having an open-door policy where employees feel comfortable asking questions helps promote transparency and fosters a growth-friendly atmosphere.

A Mentoring Effect survey clearly shows how this relationship is booming and creating breakthroughs for professionals or even freshers. Nearly 1.8 million young adults have been assigned a mentor to help them get through challenges in the professional or personal front.

Being in a mentoring relationship gives transparency to both mentors and mentee which gives them a liberty to end the relationship if things aren’t working out. And because of this, the matching process exists. And once the relationship is doing justice, it’s up to a unanimous decision of a mentor and mentee to continue this relationship informally.

Considering the significance of an informal meeting in a workplace, this article will acquaint you with the concept of informal mentoring, its benefits, and how to establish a supportive atmosphere through informal mentoring.

Learn how to start your mentorship journey: What is Mentoring Software And How Does it Work?

What is an Informal Mentoring Relationship?

A relationship which evolves organically, with no pressure and restricted timelines, can be rightfully termed as an informal mentoring relationship. Your informal mentor can be friends, family members, or colleagues who listen, guide, and direct you towards a path of your evolution.

If we talk about youngsters who are at the brim of their careers, having a mentor can give them enough power to get through new or prevailing challenges, be it in their professional or personal front. Nearly 99% of youngsters approve of an informal mentor.

Since it’s an informal mentoring relationship, there won’t be any set definition or an individual role which can act as a harbinger to your success on every front. Below are a few roles, however not restricted to these, who you can experience an informal mentorship with:

Reporting Manager or a Colleague at the work front
School Teacher
Friends & Family Members

All that’s needed for someone to be your mentor, they should hear your problems/challenges and respond to it by suggestions so that the end decision of implementation lies with you.

Also read: Role of a Mentor: Purpose & Responsibilities

Boost performance with Informal Mentoring

Why does informal mentoring in a workplace produce the best performances?

Given below are some of the reasons informal mentoring is the most common approach to start a mentorship relationship:

Informal mentorship seems to come more naturally
When a mentor and mentee sync up informally, it is partially due to some rapport between the two individuals. Besides being advantageous for the mentee’s growth, informal mentor-mentee pairings are likely to spend more time together because they get along really well.
Informal mentoring is centered on the mentee
Without a formal framework to initiate a mentoring relationship, the mentee often initiates informal mentoring by seeking a mentor. The reasons can be climbing up the corporate ladder; entering a new functional area, or acquiring new skills. Thus, the mentoring relationship is likely to achieve the mentee’s objectives.
Informal mentorship provides more flexibility
A mentee may only need a professional mentorship for a brief period of time, possibly one or two meetings. This might occur if they need assistance with a difficult career selection or if they need to acquire a certain skill or ability.

Occasionally, mentoring relationships continue to be mutually beneficial for both mentor and mentee for several years or even decades. However, official mentoring programs may limit the length of the mentoring relationship to a certain number of sessions, while informal mentoring in a workplace provides more leeway‌.

A look at the several benefits of informal mentoring

Free Way
Informal mentoring in a workplace doesn’t rely on a set timeline. There’s no fixed duration of session or even the number of sessions and is conversational, which makes it a freeway for mentees to be comfortable.
Intensive
Since this relationship is away from formal bounds, because of the personal information shared, it can become intensive, which gives the mentor a chance to help provide suggestions for a resolution.
Flexibility
The voluntary nature of this relationship gives greater flexibility to the mentees which can help get better results.
Natural Connection
Relationships might seem more natural when they resemble friendship.

Also Read: Why Lack of Mentorship in the Workplace Is a Bad Thing

Exploring different forms of informal mentoring

Informal mentoring may occur across the workplace without the participants being aware of it. The following are instances of informal mentorship.

Manager who really cares about your development and progress
Informal mentoring occurs when management takes an employee under their wing and provides guidance for growth and development chances. Managers may also offer training options for staff to aid in their growth.
Leader who looks out for your best interest
Sometimes a person in a senior position may walk beside you and guide you as you navigate your professional path. They may provide you with encouragement and moral support along the way. This is an additional instance of informal mentorship. Some managers also might advocate for you if you are interested in a particular job opening.
Colleague who provides feedback
Peer mentoring is equally as beneficial as other types of mentorships, and it may be as easy as seeking guidance from a colleague. If a colleague has more expertise or seniority, he may assist you in achieving your objectives or help in enhancing your performance as a part of the goal.
Using online forums and discussion boards aimed at professionals to learn more and share knowledge
Informal group mentorship can also be in the form of participation in various professional conversations, forums, or groups. These exchanges may be stimulating, illuminating, and instructive.

What does the statistics say?

It has been emphasized in numerous research studies that mentoring is important both for less-experienced and new joiners. Listed below are a few stats on how mentoring programs have gained importance in the past few years:

70% of Fortune 500 companies have mentoring programs
67% of businesses saw an increase in productivity due to mentorship
94% of the workforce stated they would remain at a firm longer if there were better prospects for learning and advancement
79% of workers with mentoring relationships said that they are well paid
More than four in ten employees without a mentor had thought about leaving their job

Thus, based on the above stats and research studies, it can be inferred that mentoring is one of the indispensable factors that companies can do to keep their staff involved, productive, and inspired.

Steps to initiate an informal mentoring relationship

There are some simple and easy steps that can be adopted by a seasoned professional to become an informal mentor to a less-experienced colleague.

Invite a colleague for lunch
Many wonderful connections and discussions begin over a meal. Learn about the other person and their work. Inquire about their performance in their new position and the challenges they face in the workplace. Consider their issues and concerns and try to suggest resolution. Meet again the following week to see whether there are changes in the mindset and working style of the mentee after their first interaction.
Provide Support
Inform a new employee at the job that you can help in completing their allocated responsibilities. Then, upon request, be accessible. Do not wait for the mentee to inquire.
Discuss and share a work task with an employee through mentoring software
Everyone faces difficulties, there’s a pending report to work on or a conference to attend. Discuss your problems and ask for help from a colleague. Through such activities, partnerships are built. Using Mentoring Complete software, you can easily manage your workforce by providing them best mentors as per their matching percentage.
Sending emails makes a difference
Keeping the interactions frequent helps in building a relationship, using tools to invite mentees or mentors through chats and email keeps the followup easier. At the end it’s all about being proactive at interacting with mentees to let them know you care and you’re there for them.
Increase their network
Suggest mentees to build their network. Suggest them to meet new people at work, or you as a mentor can collaboratively use your contact to help mentees understand and gain confidence.

Also Read: My Recent Mentoring Experience: 3 Things I Learned

Putting it all together

A role for the formal meeting remains, but the informal discussion has emerged as the preferred method of stimulating creativity. With little structure, informal mentoring in a workplace is both collaborative and interactive, fostering the flow of innovative and practical ideas.

And with collaboration platforms such as Mentoring Complete, you can build numerous communication channels for mentees and integrate additional technologies like virtual meetings, chat, give them resources to use which can help transform their overall personality.