Innovation and startups go hand-in-hand. The business of startups is to be on the cutting edge of the next big idea, harness new technology, think in new ways, and offer new solutions to old problems. These ideas are at the heart of innovation, but innovation is not just about creating; it's also about adapting—to the market, to the times, to the environment. This means that if you've been established for just six months or going on six years, your company can and should embrace the power of innovation.
Building a business that is open to new ideas and flexible to change isn't an easy task. You have to constantly be on the lookout for creative strategies and methods to boost your businesses. Mentoring—especially e-mentoring—is an obvious example of innovation in the industry. It provides new techniques for transferring knowledge from old to new and continually improves its quality by empowering its employees and teaching them to adapt to change. Let us take a look at a few parameters for business innovation:
- Be open to new ideas and adaptive to change.
- Implement innovation as a vital part of the business plan.
- Incorporate inspirational leadership and motivation to train and empower employees to think innovatively.
- Incorporate customer and employee feedback in the development and improvement of products, services, and business practices.
- Seek advice from trusted advisors and experts.
Now let's take a look at how e-mentoring fits the bill:
- It facilitates the transfer of knowledge and expertise that might otherwise be lost.
- It enhances employee productivity, job satisfaction, and advancement.
- Harnesses technology to match expert with protégé, thus distributing guidance where it will be most effective.
- Crosses the physical and geographical boundaries of traditional professional advisory to make mentoring accessible anytime, anywhere.
- Leverages the expertise of many to optimize knowledge transfer.
Beyond the innovative qualities of e-mentoring itself, there are countless creative ways to apply e-mentoring within your organization. From group mentoring to video conferencing to integration with traditional mentoring methods, the potential for e-mentoring to bolster your business and enhance your workforce is significant. Whether you are an emerging startup or an established organization, start thinking about how you can incorporate e-mentoring into your business plan. You'll leverage the knowledge and expertise of your senior employees and empower the next generation of employees to apply the lessons they learn to changing environments and emerging technologies. If this post resonated with you, check with your organization to see whether you are part of the MentorCloud network. If not, sign up for a demo here! Our vision is to create a mentoring planet where true equality is achieved, and hard work is rewarded, but it's only possible with your participation.