Final answer:
Mentoring is providing personalized guidance to improve a trainee's skills, and it's essential in business for skill development and performance enhancement. Training includes familiarization with company culture and specific job functions, and ongoing learning opportunities should be utilized for career development. Studies have proven the effectiveness of training in enhancing overall business performance.
Step-by-step explanation:
​​Mentoring is the process of providing one-to-one guidance and instruction to improve the knowledge, skills, and work performance of the trainee. This practical approach is a form of informal training where an experienced employee, or mentor, aids a new or less experienced colleague. Although mentoring can develop informally, some organizations prefer to establish formal mentoring programs where mentors are deliberately assigned to assist newcomers in navigating through the orientation period and beyond.
Moreover, employee training plays a crucial role in the success and performance of workers. During the initial stages of employment, orientation training is often provided to familiarize the new employee with the company's history, policies, and operational protocols, which is instrumental in integrating them into the company's culture. As they progress, employees should seek additional training opportunities offered by their employer to continue honing their skills, effectively contributing to their career development and the organization's overall growth.
It has been proven through research, like the 2003 study by Arthur, Bennett, Edens, and Bell, that training is effective in enhancing employee performance, productivity, and ultimately company profits. This is measured through various means such as immediate employee reaction, knowledge retention post-training, supervisor assessments of job activities, and business metrics like productivity and profit.