Companies that develop successful mentoring programs link these programs to specific business goals:

• Integrating new talent quickly into the organizational and company culture
• Ensuring high performers adapt quickly to increasingly responsible roles
• Developing company leaders by honing skills to inspire others
• Creating a diverse workforce at all levels through the development of interpersonal and networking skills

Each of these areas can increase their effectiveness via technology. Whether a particular mentoring program’s interaction model is one-on-one, self-directed or a combination of these, technology has a role to play.

Role of Technology in Mentoring Programs

There are three areas in which mentoring programs are aided by technology. First, mentoring management software assists in finding matches between mentors and mentorees based on job or organizational knowledge, experience and past performance.

Second, social networking software provides high-touch interaction regardless of location and time, which imparts real-time relevance to questions and answers.

Finally, E-Mentoring programs are effective at building a base of knowledge among a large group of new employees or within specific departments. These tools are used to teach best mentoring practices and clarify the roles and responsibilities of participants.

Technology in Reciprocal Mentoring

Technology has a special role to play for cross-generational mentoring situations where the conversation is a two-way street. Younger employees have a natural affinity for social networking and software tools, which they pass on to older employees. The mature employee benefits in return from acquiring new technology skills. He or she then utilizes these skills when providing the younger employee with organizational knowledge and career guidance.

Balancing Technology and the Personal Touch

The use of technology to create potent mentoring programs must not overshadow the underlying purpose: to build meaningful relationships between experienced and less experienced employees. Always ask if a particular technology or the way in which it is deployed expands or hinders that relationship to be sure it is appropriate.

As leaders in the recruiting industry, we have seen firsthand how technology has forever changed the recruiting field. In a world where texting and social media rule, many businesses have struggled to redesign their recruiting and retention strategies to reach an increasingly tech-savvy audience. This is why the unified communications approach to recruit and retain staff has emerged.

What is the “unified communications” approach?

To put it simply, the unified communications approach involves re-conceptualizing the way businesses interact with their employees. This method seeks to break down communication barriers between businesses and their employees using non-traditional means of correspondence.

Incorporating the unified communications approach into your business may make it more attractive to current and potential employees. In fact, a recent report by Forbes magazine revealed that continuous communication is one of the top non-monetary ways to increase employee satisfaction[1].

Here are some creative ways to implement a unified communications approach to recruit and retain employees:

Recruiting

It is no secret that the onboarding process can be stressful and costly for everyone involved. Here are some unified communications methods that may help:

• Video interviews: From Skype chats to WebEx conferences, video interviews are now easier than ever. Not only is this a cost-effective pre-screening technique, but it can also be much more convenient for applicants and HR staff.

• Social networking: Sites like LinkedIn can also be great tools for recruiters. In addition to being able to communicate directly with applicants through a company profile, recruiters are also able to gain some insight into an applicant’s background through a personal profile and endorsements.

Retention

Once employees are hired on, keeping them satisfied with their jobs is key to maintaining high retention rates. Here are some unified communications tools that can assist with this:

• Unified messaging systems: Unified messaging systems allow businesses to streamline messaging programs like voicemail, email, SMS messaging and even faxes. Bringing these tools into your business can improve company-wide communication and job satisfaction.

• Collaborative technology: Programs like Dropbox and instant messaging software can be great for collaborative projects. Dropbox allows multiple employees to simultaneously contribute to a project. Likewise, chat software can allow employees to communicate quickly and effectively from various locations.

A unified communications approach is all about breaking down communication barriers. If your business is having difficulty implementing its own unified communications program, consider enlisting the help of a recruiting firm. With years of experience in the recruiting industry, a firm can help you develop a unified communications strategy that meets the unique needs of your business.