Page 59 - IC90 Human Resource Management

6. Coaching and mentoring

a) Coaching: An employee who is posted to a new job may be

provided with a coach, who will help him to learn the job. The

employee may be a new entrant to the organisation or one who has

been transferred from some other position or place. The coach may

be a colleague with a little more experience who has got his own

work to do, but makes himself available as and when required.

b) Mentoring: Another method is known as Mentoring. A new

employee, on joining the organisation, is attached 'to a senior

employee, who he is called the mentor. The mentor guides and

coaches his ward in the ways of the organisation and its values in

addition to helping him improve his knowledge and skills. Unlike the

coach, this is a long-term relationship and it is not job-specific. In

course of time, the ward may even occupy a position higher in rank

and responsibility to that of the mentor. But the mentor remains

the mentor, by virtue of his seniority in the organisation and the

intimate relationship built up with his ward over the years