Page 11 - BOSS Today Issue 6

Human Resources
Mentor your way to success

One of the best ways to energise your management is through mentoring

Mentoring is a valuable and cost short and specific to improving ✱ Being a good communicator The mentee’s role
effective development intervention behavioural performance. ✱ Leading by example Mentees need to be clear about the
that can boost capability and Mentoring therefore is generally ✱ Making time for the mentee support they require and their desired
support succession planning in more focused on the bigger end-goal. They should invest time
any organisation. So what makes a picture of career and personal A mentor should also be able thinking about how their mentor can
good mentor, what is the role of the development, which makes it a to guide the mentee and help support them and how they will
mentee – and how can mentoring valuable part of your business them to develop solutions to work together. The mentee is both
add value to your bottom line? succession plan.” problems. Effective mentors will accountable and responsible for
Regional HR Adviser Alison Green ask questions and challenge their personal development plan.
has mentored many managers The mentor’s role the mentee to be more self- Done well, mentoring can build
in SMEs. She comments: “Mutual Good attributes for a mentor aware. A good mentor is a capability, instil trust and loyalty,
respect, trust and rapport between include: trusted adviser who maintains create continued professionalism
the mentor and mentee are ✱ Being business aware and confidentiality at all times. and technical competence and
fundamental to the success of any confident Alison Green: “Whenever I support future succession planning.
mentoring programme. Mentors are ✱ Possessing good listening mentor an individual, one of my This will help you recruit, retain and
responsible for shaping individuals skills desired outcomes is always for motivate the cream of the crop – and
and as such should have credibility, ✱ Remaining goal focused my mentee to gain confidence that has to be worth the investment!
be experienced in their field, be ✱ Providing appropriate and and independence. Mentors
inspirational and willing to see the timely feedback should not impose their own n FOR MORE INFORMATION
mentorship through to the end. ✱ Being inspirational with a “can map of the world or personal ON MENTORING OR ANY HR
“Mentoring is a longer-term do” mentality journey on their mentee – MATTER, CONTACT YOUR
commitment; as opposed to ✱ Having the ability to break what works for one doesn’t REGIONAL HR ADVISER ON
coaching which is generally problems down logically necessarily work for another.” 0845 250 7050

Legal
A false sense of security?

Terms and conditions may not always protect your business

Your customer asks for a quote for a This was the situation in the recent GHSP INC. commercial law. In this case that
job, you provide the quote with your case of GHSP INC -v- AB Electronic As you would expect, GHSP INC’s meant referring to the terms implied
Terms and Conditions of sale. The Limited. In this case, the High Court Terms and Conditions of purchase by the Sale of Goods Act 1979, and in
customer accepts the price for the decided that the failure of the two imposed unlimited liability on its particular that the goods sold are of
job, and sends you a Purchase Order, companies to agree whose terms suppliers; AB Electronic Limited’s “satisfactory quality”.
with their Terms and Conditions of and conditions governed the sale Terms and Conditions of sale The lesson here is that it is important
purchase. of a consignment of goods means restricted its liability to works of to conclude contract negotiations,
No doubt you’re familiar with this that neither company’s terms can be rectification and repair. however difficult that may be, and not
typical scenario. Often there may be enforced. However, the court found that just send off your forms and hope to
a bit more negotiation, e-mails fly GHSP INC is a US manufacturer there was no evidence of agreement win the battle by default.
back and forth, and you carry on and of electronic control systems for between the parties that either sides’
produce the job. Both you and your vehicles, and agreed to buy position terms had been accepted by the n FOR MORE INFORMATION,
customer think that you are safely sensors from AB Electronic Limited. A other. As a result, the question of CONTACT NICOLA LANGLEY
protected by your respective Terms batch of the sensors failed, resulting liability resulting from the product ON 01676 526 062 or EMAIL
and Conditions. in substantial consequential losses for failure would be decided by general Nicola.langley@bpif.org.uk

December 2010 | BOSS TODAY 11

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