One of the frequent comments that I hear from business owners, particularly in times of growing economic prosperity, is the challenge that they have in retaining quality staff within their organizations. Many feel that their front door has been replaced by a ‘revolving door’, one that they wish they could slow down! One successful business owner told me over coffee of how his competitors would frequently be seen just outside the gate of his plant. He said that their intent was to chat with the workers coming off shift, hoping to lure some of them away with slightly higher wages. Another business owner seemed near desperation as he searched for ways to stem the exodus of people from his firm.
Elisa Birnbaum, a freelance journalist, producer, and communications consultant living in Toronto, touches on this issue in her June 14, 2011 article, “The Mentor Within”. Elisa’s article can be seen in full on the Charity Village Website at http://www.charityvillage.com/cv/archive/acov/acov11/acov1128.asp
Here is a brief introduction to Elisa’s article, provided to whet the appetite of our readers! Thank you once again Elisa for your permission to quote from your work.
Elisa Birnbaum, a freelance journalist, producer, and communications consultant living in Toronto, touches on this issue in her June 14, 2011 article, “The Mentor Within”. Elisa’s article can be seen in full on the Charity Village Website at http://www.charityvillage.com/cv/archive/acov/acov11/acov1128.asp
Here is a brief introduction to Elisa’s article, provided to whet the appetite of our readers! Thank you once again Elisa for your permission to quote from your work.
The Mentor Within - By Elisa Birnbaum Retention has become the cause célèbre for many organizations. With a particular focus on the younger generation, ideas abound on how to create a working environment that is welcoming, engaging and supportive. An engaged staff is a satisfied one, after all.
But now the question becomes: how best to achieve those goals.
Some are looking to mentorship for answers. Helping one's staff develop skills and acquire knowledge will help move them into leadership roles, develop long-term engagements and take a good swipe at succession issues in the process. That's the theory, anyway. But while informal mentorship opportunities are prevalent, the number of organizations implementing formal, in-house mentorship programs is difficult to estimate and they are admittedly hard to find. Thankfully some were willing to share their experiences running — and developing — formalized programs.
Elisa’s full article goes on to provide examples from the Canadian Red Cross, the YWCA and Vantage Point, to illustrate how mentorship can assist organizations in more fully engaging the people they employ.
Be sure to read Elisa Birnbaum’s full article on the Charity Village Website at: http://www.charityvillage.com/cv/archive/acov/acov11/acov1128.asp
No comments:
Post a Comment