Hi,
The Buddies scheme is where a new joiner is assigned a buddy, a friend (usually a senior official), so that they become familiar with almost everything in the organization. Could you please share your thoughts on whether you believe it will be a success or a failure?
From India, Madras
Acknowledge(0)
Amend(0)
The Buddies scheme is where a new joiner is assigned a buddy, a friend (usually a senior official), so that they become familiar with almost everything in the organization. Could you please share your thoughts on whether you believe it will be a success or a failure?
From India, Madras
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Hi,
Why do you have this query? Can you explain the scenario in which this scheme is operating so that we can understand your situation? I personally see no reason why this should fail anywhere - else how will an organization survive? Awaiting your response.
Regards, Ryan
From India, Mumbai
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
90Why do you have this query? Can you explain the scenario in which this scheme is operating so that we can understand your situation? I personally see no reason why this should fail anywhere - else how will an organization survive? Awaiting your response.
Regards, Ryan
From India, Mumbai
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Hi there. It’s worked for years. It’s called mentoring. Alan Guinn, Managing Director The Guinn Consultancy Group, Inc.
From United States, Bluff City
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
From United States, Bluff City
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Hi there,
Mentoring is separate from the buddy scheme. A buddy is usually at the same level, while a mentor is a skip-level senior - one level above your boss. A buddy helps in understanding the organization and its culture, whereas a mentor assists in career counseling and overall personal and professional development. Both buddy and mentor schemes are extremely useful if followed with the right spirit.
From India, Gurgaon
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Mentoring is separate from the buddy scheme. A buddy is usually at the same level, while a mentor is a skip-level senior - one level above your boss. A buddy helps in understanding the organization and its culture, whereas a mentor assists in career counseling and overall personal and professional development. Both buddy and mentor schemes are extremely useful if followed with the right spirit.
From India, Gurgaon
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Avneet,
You're right..both are quite useful.
I use the term Mentor to indicate anyone who coaches, counsels, or suggests a new, improved, or alternative action to another. Mentors may even be experienced employees at levels below the incumbent employee; they don't need to be at a higher level.
Example: I took on a position which required knowledge of supply chain management; although I was a Director-level employee, I was mentored by a lower-level supervisor that had enjoyed over 20 years of warehousing experience.
In this case, the mentoring which I received was reversed to the role you explained.
There's no reason, however, to be "hung up" on semantics.
In my mind, the requisite for a mentor is simply someone who has advanced knowledge of a product, service, or process, and is willing to share that knowledge with another; if it's in a buddy-scheme, and both employees are at equivalent levels in a hierarchy, so be it.
As my friend Leo Lingham states,
Rita A Peterson, quoted here on CiteHR several times, in her Guide for Mentoring, lists several attributes:
A mentor is a loyal friend, confidant and advisor
A mentor is a teacher, guide, coach and role model
A mentor is entrusted with the care and education of another
A mentor has knowledge and advanced or expert status
A mentor is attracted to and nurtures a person of talent and ability
A mentor is willing to give away what he or she knows in a non-competitive way
© Guide for Mentoring by Rita A. Petersen
Here are some of the items I identify as requirements for Mentors in my Seminar on Leadership and Mentoring:
1. They are considered by peers to be experts in the field.
2. They set high standards for themselves.
3. They enjoy and are enthusiastic about their field.
4. They continue to update their background in the field.
So, if we accept that Buddies are mentors, and we accept that mentors help employees, then--I'd say, yes, the Buddy system works.
Hope that's helpful.
All the best.
Alan Guinn, Managing Director
The Guinn Consultancy Group, Inc.
From United States, Bluff City
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
You're right..both are quite useful.
I use the term Mentor to indicate anyone who coaches, counsels, or suggests a new, improved, or alternative action to another. Mentors may even be experienced employees at levels below the incumbent employee; they don't need to be at a higher level.
Example: I took on a position which required knowledge of supply chain management; although I was a Director-level employee, I was mentored by a lower-level supervisor that had enjoyed over 20 years of warehousing experience.
In this case, the mentoring which I received was reversed to the role you explained.
There's no reason, however, to be "hung up" on semantics.
In my mind, the requisite for a mentor is simply someone who has advanced knowledge of a product, service, or process, and is willing to share that knowledge with another; if it's in a buddy-scheme, and both employees are at equivalent levels in a hierarchy, so be it.
As my friend Leo Lingham states,
Rita A Peterson, quoted here on CiteHR several times, in her Guide for Mentoring, lists several attributes:
A mentor is a loyal friend, confidant and advisor
A mentor is a teacher, guide, coach and role model
A mentor is entrusted with the care and education of another
A mentor has knowledge and advanced or expert status
A mentor is attracted to and nurtures a person of talent and ability
A mentor is willing to give away what he or she knows in a non-competitive way
© Guide for Mentoring by Rita A. Petersen
Here are some of the items I identify as requirements for Mentors in my Seminar on Leadership and Mentoring:
1. They are considered by peers to be experts in the field.
2. They set high standards for themselves.
3. They enjoy and are enthusiastic about their field.
4. They continue to update their background in the field.
So, if we accept that Buddies are mentors, and we accept that mentors help employees, then--I'd say, yes, the Buddy system works.
Hope that's helpful.
All the best.
Alan Guinn, Managing Director
The Guinn Consultancy Group, Inc.
From United States, Bluff City
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Dear Alan,
While I do agree with your concept and the phrases mentioned therein, don't you think that any person who is imparting knowledge, which is known to him by virtue of knowledge or experience, may also be termed as a trainer who is required to induct the person into the system and train on various skills that are a part of the function and value system of the organization.
At the same time, I do agree that the trainers can be mentors also, but vice versa may not always be true. I think I am mentally conditioned that way as in our company, the mentor is usually a skip-level person. However, I do feel that mentoring is more of an emotional dependence and buddy is emotional bonding. By nature, one tends to depend on a person who is more experienced and at a higher level.
I think it's a matter of choice and could also be industry-specific.
Regards,
Avneet
From India, Gurgaon
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
While I do agree with your concept and the phrases mentioned therein, don't you think that any person who is imparting knowledge, which is known to him by virtue of knowledge or experience, may also be termed as a trainer who is required to induct the person into the system and train on various skills that are a part of the function and value system of the organization.
At the same time, I do agree that the trainers can be mentors also, but vice versa may not always be true. I think I am mentally conditioned that way as in our company, the mentor is usually a skip-level person. However, I do feel that mentoring is more of an emotional dependence and buddy is emotional bonding. By nature, one tends to depend on a person who is more experienced and at a higher level.
I think it's a matter of choice and could also be industry-specific.
Regards,
Avneet
From India, Gurgaon
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Hi Alan,
What you are talking about regarding 'Mentoring' requirements in your seminar on 'Leadership and Mentoring' is absolutely what a Mentor can be identified as, whether it be an external or internal mentor (though a skip-level manager or otherwise).
I think the point of difference lies in what Avneet has referred to as a Buddy - someone who helps in understanding the implicit culture of an organization to ease a newcomer in finding his/her way around the organization. A Mentor goes beyond this profile, whereas a buddy is not normally expected to do so.
Meenakshi.
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
What you are talking about regarding 'Mentoring' requirements in your seminar on 'Leadership and Mentoring' is absolutely what a Mentor can be identified as, whether it be an external or internal mentor (though a skip-level manager or otherwise).
I think the point of difference lies in what Avneet has referred to as a Buddy - someone who helps in understanding the implicit culture of an organization to ease a newcomer in finding his/her way around the organization. A Mentor goes beyond this profile, whereas a buddy is not normally expected to do so.
Meenakshi.
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)CiteHR is an AI-augmented HR knowledge and collaboration platform, enabling HR professionals to solve real-world challenges, validate decisions, and stay ahead through collective intelligence and machine-enhanced guidance. Join Our Platform.
Poor can benefit from this edu loan scheme.pdf
Employee referral scheme new.doc