Mentoring Matters for Women

By Dr. Nancy D. O'Reilly, Real Estate Business Magazine, October/November 2007

Corporate America spends millions of dollars each year to make the workplace more efficient and productive. Finding and retaining talented and experienced workers is key to reducing turnover and high operational costs. Mentoring new employees and helping them become successful on the job is one way to reduce turnover. Women can benefit from a female mentor who has knowledge and experience and can show them "the ropes." The mentor can be a guide, a role model and a good advisor.

Michelle always wanted to be a real estate agent and dreamed of helping clients buy and sell homes in the luxury market. She was fresh out of school and had some experience working in real estate offices. When she entered her job as a real estate agent, Michelle was surrounded by brokers and managers she idealized and admired. One of them was Joan. Joan had been at the company for 10 years. She was the perfect mentor for Michelle. The two hit it off immediately, and Joan spent time helping Michelle gain the necessary skills to fulfill her dream. Joan admitted that when she started, she had to go it alone and often felt like no one was there to support and advise her. Things changed for Joan when a co-worker offered suggestions and helped her to find the confidence to earn designations and become a broker. Joan thanks her mentor for giving her support. Like her mentor, Michelle vows to help other women in the workplace.