support

Does Your Office Have a Mentorship Program? You Might Want to Make It Mandatory.

By in Leadership, Learning No Comments Tags: ,

Mentor

In order to help new or inexperienced employees develop their knowledge and skills, many offices offer mentorship programs. And in most instances, these mentorship programs are optional.

Mentorship programs are extremely beneficial. New employees who receive mentoring are often more effective and productive. They also benefit from feeling like they have someone whom they can reach out to for help and support. Indeed, the only problem with these types of programs is that the employees who need mentoring the most are not likely to participate.

According to a study by the National Bureau of Economic Research, the employees who sign up for mentorship programs tend to be the ones who need it the least. They’re often employees who have the skills and drive to succeed, whether they receive mentoring or not. On the other hand, employees who truly need assistance and guidance are not likely to sign up for a mentorship program – perhaps because they fear that it would be a sign of weakness or that their mentor might be disappointed in their lack of knowledge.

What can be done to fix this problem? The easiest solution would be to make your mentorship program mandatory. If it were required, everyone would benefit – including those who truly need it.

…

Oliver, S. (2021, November 1). Which workers need mentoring? The ones who don’t want it. The Wall Street Journal, R3.

What to Say to a Coworker Who’s Upset

By in Communication 2 Comments Tags: , , ,

Comforting_Coworker

It’s sometimes really hard to know what to say to a coworker who is obviously upset about something. You want to help that person to feel better, but you might also be afraid of saying the wrong thing.

Author Deborah Grayson Riegel recommends that you avoid telling the person how they should be feeling. For instance, it may not be helpful to tell your coworker to “stop worrying” or “cheer up” (or, worst of all, “get over it”). 

Also, it’s generally not a good idea to offer advice unless your coworker specifically asks for it. Most people don’t want to be told what to do.

It’s much more effective to simply ask your coworker to tell you how they’re feeling, and then to really listen to what they have to say. Here are a few examples:

  • “You seem upset. Tell me what’s bothering you.”
  • “I can tell that you’re concerned about the situation. What’s worrying you most?”
  • “I know you’re still feeling angry/sad about what happened. What do you think would help you to start feeling better?”

Listen while they talk about their problems and feelings. Be sympathetic. Tell them that they are strong and resilient. And tell them that you’ll be there to support them when they need it.

If they get annoyed, don’t get offended. Just tell them that you’re sorry that they’re having a hard time, and remind them that you’re there for them. Then end the conversation. They’ll know that they have your support, and that’s a powerful thing.

…

Riegel, D. G. (2019, April 1). How to talk with a coworker who’s having a rough time. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from: https://hbr.org/2019/04/how-to-talk-with-a-coworker-whos-having-a-tough-time

How to Be a Good Coworker During a Pandemic

By in Living Well, Navigating Change No Comments Tags: , , ,

Caring_Coworker

I’m new to working from home. I think a lot of us are. We’re used to being in an office, surrounded by our coworkers. But now, all of sudden, things have changed in so many ways.

One thing that I’ve noticed while working from home is that, if we’re not careful, the bonds between coworkers can become weakened. And I can understand why. Everyone is under a lot of stress. We’re all being asked to work a different way and take on new tasks. And, most of all, we can’t easily communicate with each other like we used to. We can’t stop by each other’s offices to make small talk and connect with each other. We’re separated. And I think that’s made it harder to be empathic and understanding.

So what can we do to remedy this situation? According to author Alexandra Samuel, compassion is key. We all need to focus on how we can help one another.

Even if you normally work in a competitive environment, you should try to shift gears, and be more relaxed and supportive. Try to let small slights and annoyances slide. Let your guard down. Be honest about how you’re feeling. And, if possible, take the time to check in on your coworkers and see how they’re coping.

Some coworkers will really appreciate having the opportunity to talk about the difficulties that they’ve been having. Maybe they’re having a hard time trying to work with their kids at home, or they’re concerned about their elderly parents. You don’t need to offer any advice. Simply giving people the chance to talk about these things can help to alleviate some of their stress.

Other coworkers may not be interested in talking about their concerns. And that’s OK. They’ll still appreciate the fact that you asked about how they were doing – and they may feel comforted knowing that you’re there to listen if they feel like talking.

Pay special attention to any new employees in your department. They are probably the most likely to be feeling lost and overwhelmed.

And if you could offer to help out coworkers who might be struggling with a certain task or a new type of software, that would be wonderful. Don’t take on more than you can manage. But if you have the knowledge and capacity to help your coworkers get their work done more easily, you should do it.

It’s a scary, uncertain time for all of us. But this pandemic could actually help us to form stronger bonds with our coworkers. Ultimately, it could transform our offices into more caring, supportive, empathic places to work.

…

Samuel, A. (2020, April 17). New rules for being a good colleague. The Wall Street Journal, p. R4.

Pin It on Pinterest