Skip to main content
Contact Sales Support Login Help Careers
United States (English)
Americas
  • United States (English)
  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • Mexico (Español)
  • Brasil (Português)
Europe, Middle East & Africa
  • United Kingdom (English)
  • France (Français)
  • Deutschland (Deutsch)
  • Nederland (Nederlands)
  • Other EMEA Locations
Asia/Pacific
  • India (English)
  • Australia (English)
  • Other ASEAN Locations
UKG logo UKG logo
Search Get started
Search
Get started
    • Solutions
      UKG Solutions
      Human Capital Management
      Workforce Management
      Global Payroll
      Workforce Management and Payroll
      See all
      Solutions by size
      Small Business
      Midsize Business
      Enterprise
      Industry Solutions
      Retail
      Hospitality and Food Service
      Manufacturing
      Healthcare
      Public Sector
      Logistics and Distribution
      Financial Services
      Field and Contract Services
      See all
      A brighter workplace is yours to create
      Experience UKG Bryte AI
      Reference Image
      Woman sitting at desk in front of a laptop smiling

      Discover AI powered by decades of people, work, and workplace culture data that’s designed to help every organization become a great place to work.

    • Customers
      Our Customers

      More than 80,000 organizations across all sizes, industries, and geographies trust UKG HR, payroll, and workforce management, and culture cloud solutions to drive great workplace experiences.

      UKG customer logos
      Customer Stories
      Belle Tire

      UKG Pro streamlines and automates administrative and HR tasks, so that field teams and managers can spend more time with customers, and coach, train, and listen to their people.

      Eventide Senior Living Communities

      Eventide Senior Living Communities uses UKG to drive employee engagement and streamline workforce management and HCM, including cutting PBJ reporting time by 99%.

      Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants

      Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants, a nationally recognized restaurant group, is building a culture of belonging and engagement for its frontline workforce with the AI-powered UKG Pro suite.

      See all customer stories
      Customer Experience

      We think you’re pretty special when you’re a UKG Customer. That’s why we build products designed to inspire your people — and your organization — to grow and thrive.

      Partner for Life
      Implementation
      Support Experience
      Community and Collaboration
      Working Smarter Café
      Get support, collaborate, and learn more about your UKG solution!
      Visit UKG Community
    • Resources
      Research & Insights
      • By Business Need
        • Payroll
        • Human Resources
        • Time & Attendance
        • Workforce Management
      • By Type
        • Analyst Report
        • Webinar Replay
        • Product Info
      See all research & insights
      Events
      Tradeshows
      Conferences
      Webinars
      See all events
      Blog
      The People Purpose Blog

      Your source for the latest workplace trends and ideas from UKG experts and leaders. Stay informed and put people first in all you do.

      Labor Market Insights
      Workforce Activity Report

      Labor market insights and trends to help executive leaders understand the rapidly changing economy.

      Workplace Resources
      Great Place To Work
      Small Business Resource Center
      UKG Developer Hub
      UKG Recognized as a Leader in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Cloud HCM Suites for 1,000+ Employee Enterprises
      Download now
      Reference Image
      An excited woman wearing a white blazer points upwards with both hands.

      Gain in-depth insights into the human capital management (HCM) market to help identify the solution that aligns perfectly with your organization’s needs.

    • About Us
      About UKG

      Learn more about UKG and how our HR solutions inspire workforces and businesses around the world to drive people-focused results.

      About Us
      Why Choose UKG
      UKG Leadership
      Newsroom
      Awards & Recognition
      UKG Ambassadors
      Culture
      Belonging, Equity, and Impact
      Our ESG Program
      Partners
      UKG Marketplace
      Analyst Reports
      Careers

      Look to your future. If you're interested in working for a company that truly invests in their people to create a culture of belonging and innovation, we want you on our team.

      Careers at UKG
      Early Career & Internships
      Benefits
      Life at UKG
      Featured Locations
      Hiring FAQs
      Experience awesome at work.
      Search jobs at UKG
    Contact Sales Support Login Help Careers
    United States (English)
    Americas
    • United States (English)
    • Canada (English)
    • Canada (Français)
    • Mexico (Español)
    • Brasil (Português)
    Europe, Middle East & Africa
    • United Kingdom (English)
    • France (Français)
    • Deutschland (Deutsch)
    • Nederland (Nederlands)
    • Other EMEA Locations
    Asia/Pacific
    • India (English)
    • Australia (English)
    • Other ASEAN Locations
    UKG Workforce Institute

    Three Key Steps for Mentorship in the Workplace

    • Share
    March 23, 2023

    Written By

    Dennis Miller
    Dennis Miller
    Associate Vice President, HR and Benefits Administration, The Claremont Colleges

    Dennis Miller is the Associate Vice President of HR and Benefits Administration in a shared services environment at The Claremont Colleges, a consortium of seven separate and highly regarded institutions of higher education, including Pomona College, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont McKenna College, Scripps College, Keck Graduate Institute, Claremont Graduate University, and Pitzer College. Dennis has held several executive roles over his career in HR and was formerly the Chief Employment Officer for Cal Poly Pomona Foundation. This auxiliary organization supports Cal Poly Pomona, which is one of the 23 California State University campuses delivering exceptional educational services and experiences to about 500,000 students annually. Dennis’ focus in the workplace is organizational development, with an emphasis on process improvement through the application of technology, and team development. Dennis holds a Senior Professional in HR Certification from the HR Certification Institute and a graduate degree in HR development and management from Chapman University. He is also a retired U.S. Marine Corps Air Traffic Controller. 

    What he’s passionate about: Living life to its fullest, remaining healthy and happy, while sharing in that happiness with friends and loved ones (which became especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic)

    Topics

    Mentorship Leadership Workplace Culture
    Subscribe via RSS

    Mentorship in the workplace can be a critical factor in the overall success of employees. When we think about how often managers do or should interact with their employees, there are opportunities for leaders to naturally serve as mentors.

    Because we already ask a lot of our managers, what are some practical tips for mentorship, and are there different strategies whether an employee works on the frontline, in an office, or at home? My fellow advisory board members offered many useful insights as part of the latest weigh-in column. Here, I provide my extended thoughts on this topic.

    When looking for an ideal way to mentor either types of workers, or any type of worker for that matter, there are some common tools to consider. Although a one-size approach will not likely fit for all mentorship programs, below are three key activities in which to consider for mentoring frontline and remote workers, and one important consideration when developing any mentorship approach or program.

    First, the manager must know if the employee wants to be mentored. The best way to know the answer to that question is to simply discuss this option with the employee. Let them know that you and the company are interested in their professional development and growth — if they, too, are interested in that development and growth. It would be a mistake for a manager to conclude that all workers want to grow professionally, or that they have a desire to be mentored.

    It is essential to be clear about the definition of “professional development and growth” with the mentee. Many employees assume such terminology is analogous for getting an automatic promotion or pay increase. While professional development can often lead to pay increases, either within the same company or another company, professional growth and pay increases are not the same, and that distinction is critically important for the mentee to understand when talking about any mentorship program.

    Second, when an employee indicates they are interested in being mentored, the next key question is “which job skills” would the employee like to explore developing through a mentorship approach. The mentor and employee should agree upon the outcomes of the program, along with common skills, or set of skills, in which to focus. The importance of defining the purpose of the mentorship approach is essential to its overall success.

    After gaining perspective on these two areas, the third step is for the mentor and mentee to jointly develop an action plan in which to proceed. This type of plan will be especially important to frontline employees, since having dedicated and distraction-free time for this work is an essential element to an effective mentoring outcome.

    For example, when meetings are scheduled during normal work hours, which will often be the case, consideration must be taken for scheduling meetings around times when a backup person is available during mentor meetings, to help ensure the meetings are uninterrupted. Conversely, remote workers will usually need more intentionality on the time and date to schedule the meetings. And, either type of worker might be interested in eMentoring programs, which can further facilitate mentoring.

    One consideration to keep at the forefront of any mentorship program: even though a methodology and one or more processes can be designed for mentoring employees — or even the use of eMentoring programs — all employees, mentor and mentee alike, are unique people. As such, for optimal outcomes in any mentorship scenario, one must necessarily have flexibility in the mentoring method used to allow for individualized customization, even when the customization is relatively minor in nature.

    • The People Purpose Blog
    • Three Key Steps for Mentorship in the Workplace

    Related Stories

     A group of men are watching a soccer game and cheering.
    The People Purpose Blog
    An Olympic-Sized Event Could Emerge Across America This Summer: Missing Work to Watch the Games

    Millions of U.S. workers plan to skip work or watch during work hours to catch the 2024 Summer Olympics, potentially impacting productivity.

     Two people are sitting at a table in a library, talking.
    The People Purpose Blog
    Navigating Workforce Trends: Strategic HR Leadership in Higher Education

    Higher education faces major challenges in recruiting and retaining staff. HR and campus leaders must innovate, focusing on more than pay and flexibility.

    group of employees with two of them shaking hands
    The People Purpose Blog
    5 Steps Toward Repairing Workplace Trust Once It’s Broken

    Trust is key to organizational culture. When broken, repair it by admitting mistakes, reversing roles, seeking feedback, listening, and holding accountability.

    UKG logo

    Footer menu

    • Suites
      • HCM Software for Enterprises
      • HCM Software for Midsize and Small Businesses
      • Workforce Management Software
    • Solutions by need
      • Time & Attendance
      • Human Resources
      • Payroll
      • AI in the Workplace
      • Scheduling
      • Talent Management
      • Employee Experience
      • Multi-Country Payroll
    • Customers
      • Implementation
      • Support Experience
      • UKG Community
      • Customer Experience
    • About Us
      • Why UKG
      • Culture
      • Our ESG Program
      • Leadership
      • Newsroom
      • Careers
      • Privacy and Security
      • Legal
      • Sitemap
    • Resources
      • Events
      • Analyst Reports
      • Workforce Activity Report
      • HCM and AI
      • The People Purpose Blog
      • Small Business Center
      • Enterprise HCM Demo Center
      • HR Software Demo Center

    Sub Footer

    • Accessibility
    • Cookie Choices
    • Cookie Notice
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Notice
    • Mobile Terms
    © 2025 UKG Inc. All rights reserved.

    Kronos SaaShr, Inc., a UKG Company (NMLS ID#1698726) provides money transmission services on behalf of UKG Inc. customers and in connection with certain UKG products. For more information, visit Compliance & Licenses.