mentoring sessions with pleasant expectations. If you
think mentoring sessions will be dreary, painful
experiences, identify why and consider talking to the
associate about this experience. Mentoring sessions should
be win-win experiences for both of you. But they can be
demanding and a bit draining, as any good teacher will tell
you. So anticipate and prepare for the possibility of frayed
nerves.- Speak with a smile.
Emotional upheaval is usually accompanied by raised
voices and “strained” facial features (frowns, etc.). Anger,
fear and indignation are virtually impossible to express
(for long) with a smiling face and soft, conversational
tones. Moral: When emotions threaten to distort your
normally mature responses, take a deep breath ...
consciously speak more softly ... and smile! It does more
than hide inner turmoil. It actually defuses it!
In Uganda, farmers pair the young, beginner ox with an
older ox. The two oxen are tied together with a special
harness. The device is called a training yoke and it is
configured to make sure the older ox pulls most of the
burden. The older ox has the control. If the farmers don’t
do that, the younger ox tends to go too fast or too slow.
The older ox has the control so it’ll go at the right pace.
The younger one must work at the same pace. The young
ox learns from the experience of “walking alongside.” If
you’ve never mentored before, keep this illustration in
mind in the days and years ahead. It will begin to have
special relevance as you interact with associates.
Ten Tips for Mentors ..........................................................................................
A guideline for what you can do as an effective mentor
involves ten basics.- Know your work. Review the basics. Think back on the
problems you’ve faced and know how you dealt with
them. Be prepared to answer questions about every aspect
of the focus of your mentoring.
Coaching, Mentoring and Managing4
“Soft words bring
hard things
to pass.”
— Aesop