How Older Workers Nearing Retirement can Mentor their Replacement
Long-term employees who are approaching retirement can have an amazing impact on their replacements and the general well-being of the business if they just take the time to mentor them before leaving their positions. Unfortunately some retirees may have the attitude that no one can do the job as well as they did. Realizing that it is time to step down and share the knowledge that only experience and longevity can provide will leave a lasting legacy to the position and company as well as to the individual who will be following in their hard-to-fill footsteps.
Departing employees can pay homage to their workplace by fully preparing the new personnel to take on their roles through:
Allowing the New Person to Shadow Them
If the replacement is allowed to follow the potential retiree during the performance of duties throughout the day, he will get a close-up view of the demands and schedule of the work involved. Explaining steps and projects throughout the work day will give the new person a major advantage in the performance of his new position.
Supplying Hands On Experience
Stepping back and allowing your replacement to begin taking on tasks before the retirement date arrives will allow the retiree to observe and critique the job performance of their replacement. This is highly effective as it allows both parties to be extremely involved in the transitional phase.
Leaving Written Instructions
For more difficult tasks, it can be very useful to supply written instructions which the new personnel can refer to as needed. This supplies a lasting instruction manual for others who may also follow in the same or an identical job within the same company.
Supplying Contact Information
The ultimate in mentoring a replacement is to leave a phone number and/or an email address in case of questions, concerns or need for further instruction. Payment will probably not be rendered for this service but the retiree can be assured that he is doing all that can be done to keep the company running smoothly and efficiently after his departure.
Employees who have given years of their life to a workplace can leave a piece of themselves and their work ethic by taking the time to properly orientate their replacements. It is a selfless act and the training time saved and the experience shared will go far in leaving a legacy of you and your performance for a very long time to come.
