It takes two: making mentoring work. By Louise Druce

They say two heads are better than one, which is why mentoring can help unlock the potential within staff looking to develop within the company. But it's not all one sided. As Louise Druce finds out, one-to-one programmes can also give mentors a new lease of life.

The first few weeks in a new job can be daunting enough trying to place faces with names and get to grips with where everything is. Then there's the actual job to contend with. That’s why it makes sense to have someone with insider experience guiding you over the first few hurdles rather than being left to fend for yourself after an all-encompassing, albeit brief, introduction to the role.

Mentoring isn’t just for the newbies, however. Staff who are stuck in a rut, those dealing with major changes within the company or a freshly promoted manager can all benefit from having one-to-one sessions with someone renowned for getting the job done in the most effective way.