8) KMC - COLLABORATION (Part 1)

Key Mentorship Characteristics (KMC) ... COLLABORATION
 

Definition - "Collaboration" is the process of working with others in order to develop something, frequently something that is greater than would otherwise have been possible for either party to realize on their own.

We asked:

• What is the role of COLLABORATION within a mentoring relationship?
• What does COLLABORATION mean to you?
• How is COLLABORATION developed between the mentoring partners?

Here are a few related thoughts from our personal experience:
 

If we can truly achieve more by working together, then COLLABORATION is an approach that merits closer investigation, particularly within a mentoring relationship. When you get together, be sure to bring your IDEAS and ENERGY to the table, SHARE them with the other party, and see what you can BUILD together.
 

In mentorship relationships, we encourage both parties to be flexible and adaptive to learn from each other. While one might assume it is the Protégé who learns from the Mentor, many Mentors have also experienced growth within a dynamic mentorship relationship! We'll never forget what one of our past Mentors said when we asked him about WHAT he was getting out of his mentoring relationship. Our good friend Bruce Wiebe said, “Being a Mentor is great! Working with a Protégé makes you think about why you do the things you do. Being a Mentor allows me to share and it keeps me sharp!” In other words, Bruce was saying that he also got great value out of being involved in the mentoring relationship.

Todd Hirsch, with ATB Financial, Leann Hackman-Carty, with Economic Developers Alberta and Jim Ewing

It was great to meet Todd Hirsch, Economist with ATB Financial, and snap a quick photo with Leann Hackman-Carty, Executive Director with Economic Developers Alberta. This photo was taken when I attended the Annual Conference for Economic Developers Alberta in April of 2012 - that's when Jim picked up a copy of Todd's book - “The Boiling Frog Dilemma: Saving Canada from Economic Decline”.

Co-authored with Robert Roach, the authors provide many interesting perspectives on how to approache the challenges facing Canadian businesses. As it relates to Collaboration, the following was in a section called, the New Canadian Entrepreneur, on page 169.  We thought it was very appropriate and equally relevant within mentorship, as well as within entrepreneurship. What do you think?

10) The New Canadian Entrepreneur is a community-builder and networker.

“... the new entrepreneur will be a voter, a volunteer, and a collaborator. She will be at the centre of a strong network of relationships and she will seek out interaction with a wide range of diverse people on a regular basis. She will be a global citizen, but she will have strong ties to her local place and be a proud Canadian. She will know instinctively that you have to give to get and that it is people and communities that make for a strong economy, not just profits and growth.”

Having worked with many entrepreneurs who are trying to advance their business dreams, we believe that COLLABORATION is more important today than it ever has been. The ‘Lone Ranger’ approach of doing things totally on your own is more likely to isolate you in today’s complex world, with security and environmental concerns added to global economic and competitive forces.

NOW - Please feel free to share your comments and experiences with respect to this aspect of mentorship. Also, help us to reach others who could benefit from participating in this discussion. We welcome your 'sharing' this page with those in your circle of contacts!

Questions:
• What is the role of COLLABORATION within a mentoring relationship? 

 
• What does COLLABORATION mean to you? 

 
• How is COLLABORATION developed between the mentoring partners?