Mentoring

By Sue Z. Hart

“Try not to be a man (person) of success, but a man (person) of value.” ~ Albert Einstein

When I think of mentoring, I believe there are two types. The first type of mentoring is what most people traditionally think of, which involves deliberate sharing of one’s time and skills. The mentor works alongside the mentee to share their wisdom in a purposeful way. This is especially important when so much of our skilled workforce is getting ready to retire. The knowledge they have learned by “doing” a job over the past three or four decades cannot be taught in a book. Their “hands-on” knowledge would be lost without mentoring.

We need more mentors and programs that promote this type of training.

The second type of mentoring is done every moment of the day when we think no one is watching. In over the years I have come to learn a lot by observation, not that I am afraid to ask questions mind you, but by watching others you can learn a lot about them, especially if they do not know you are watching. This is when integrity, character and leadership shine... or not.

Dr. Haim Ginott said, “Children are like wet cement; whatever falls on them makes an impression.” Like children everything we see makes and impression on us. As we get older we are better able to filter what we see to know if it the right thing to do or not.

What is doing “the right thing”? Very simplistically, I think it is keeping in mind how our actions will affect others and our environment. If we are in a leadership position, we are watched even more closely. Of course the big things like laundering money or taking credit for someone else’s work are obvious no no’s. But, little things like wearing your seatbelt, merging in traffic “like a zipper” or putting your shopping cart back are little things that say a lot about you.

Have you watched yourself lately? What do your actions teach others?