Coaching, Mentoring and Managing: A Coach Guidebook

4

In many ways, mentoring is the fulcrum on which the roles of
“coach” and “counselor” balance. Without the investment of time,
sweat, and commitment inherent in the role of mentor, coaching
and counseling would be less credible. It is far easier to motivate
or correct someone who has known you to be a sincere, caring and
patient teacher.

Your mentoring style may be bizarre ... your methods may not
reflect the most “accepted” guidelines. But your willingness to
invest yourself in the life of another person will be the key that
unlocks a treasure of fulfillment and accomplishment for many
people ... beginning with you!

Summary ............................................................................................................

At the same time that technology, performance pressures and
other forces transform how organizations and their employees get
things done, they also force increasing numbers of workers to
reassess the role of work in their lives. The quest for a better
balance between life and work, the search for more meaning in
work, and increased attention to the role of relationships within the
workplace are just three trends that push the role of mentor to
predominance. Add to that the challenges of recruitment and
retention and increased emphasis on career planning and the
mentor becomes invaluable in managing the human assets.

As a mentor, you are available to your above-average
performers. You teach, instruct, guide and are there for them.
Many organizations have formal mentoring programs, where
human resources or the department heads assign people to act as
champions and advisors for the stars of the organization.
Mentoring is no longer a sometimes thing for some people. It’s
your best bet for growing talent for your organization.

Mentoring helps people see the big picture. It is excellent for
career growth.

You can help the associate understand office politics, how the
organization works, what the jobs are, the mission and vision of
each department and how it all fits. You can answer questions,
point in different directions, and present different points of view.

The Mentoring Role: Instruction by Example

Mentors are always

mentors in the

minds of those

they help.