Experienced business women mentoring less experienced women is a nurturing and cooperative relationship that helps your employees succeed. Mentoring allows them to exchange ideas and insight with other professionals. Research shows mentoring is a crucial part of success in business. Women who have mentors or go through a mentoring program are more likely to increase their productivity and skills. They gain conceptual and technical knowledge from a source of information and experience.

As a small business owner or manager, you can make a difference in your employees' success by connecting them to mentoring for career women opportunities. A successful mentor can make all the difference in building a career. Experienced professionals mentor less experienced people, to share their secrets. By picking the brain of someone who's already surpassed the hurdles, your employees save valuable time and do business much more efficiently. To provide your employees with a mentoring relationship:

1. Encourage them to join a professional women's group that links them to career women mentoring.

2. Educate employees about business women mentoring, explaining it's a structured process of face-to-face discussions and online relationships.

3. Allow them to use a message board or blog during work hours to share ideas and ask questions of mentors.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Offer employees the chance to join a group that focuses on career women mentoring and networks

Women's business mentoring is not defined as a bunch of frenzied phone calls. The process is more formal, with regular discussions and meetings. There is also a system in place to review performance and progress, to build on skills and success.

I recommend: Women's Network for Entrepreneurial Training focuses on career women mentoring. The Women’s Business Office of the SBA sponsors the support group. There are Women's Business Centers throughout the nation, which provide an outlet for mentoring relationships and networking. Search for local business centers online. Search for local business centers online. Women's Network is a networking resource for female professionals and executives. It's comprised of bright, literate and well-educated women professionals.

Promote employees to access forums and message boards that focus on mentoring career women

Mentoring women in business doesn't have to be a sit-down, face to face process. Email-based mentoring relationships hook up experienced professionals from various industries. They also allow career women mentoring opportunities.

I recommend: The MentorNet E-Forum is a web-based women's business mentoring discussion group system. It's an engaging and supportive place to make connections and discuss ideas. Employees can join the E-Forum as a group mentoring experience. National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) has a message board that provides a place to express feelings and concerns about managing personal and professional lives. It's also an opportunity to form mentoring relationships. Canadian Women's Business Network's forum gives employees the chance to learn new skills and strategies and make connections throughout the world.

Use career sites geared toward mentoring women in business to attract new employees

Sure, there are tons of career sites available for you to post openings. Nevertheless, there aren't many that focus on women mentoring women? The advantage of advertising positions on these sites is that you know you're getting a candidate who is trying hard to improve herself. She's honing her skills through the advice of others.

I recommend: Mentoring for Women in the Workplace offers a job center, which serves as a career women network. Use the state-of-the-art technology to post a position with your company. Another great resource is Quintessential Careers. The job bank caters to women job seekers who can search it simply by keywords, location or industry.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Promote employees to take advantage of several mentoring career women because each relationship brings something unique to the table. Some women have better technology or financial skills, for example.