A Reason, a Season, a Lifetime

We recently came across some great tips that can be used for finding Mentors using Social Media.  Here is one of several tips suggested by Nicole Williams, in her October 25, 2011 article called:   Women and Mentoring in the U.S.

We encourage you to read her entire article when you have a moment. 

< http://blog.linkedin.com/2011/10/25/mentoring-women/ >

A Reason, a Season or a Lifetime:  Start with the goal in mind. While typically referring to friendships, I find this is one of the most effective ways of wrapping your head around what you’re looking for in a mentor.  Before you can address the where and how of it all, it comes down to having a very clear view of what you’re looking for.  Whether it be the insight of an expert to help answer a specific question that’s haunting you, or finding someone you want to emulate for their poise and integrity; the better you’re able to define what you’re looking for, the more apt you are to find it.

Additional opportunities to learn more about Mentorship are available for you right NOW, on our YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/ProvisionMentorship 

Mentorship and the Link to Success

We recently received an email from someone exploring our Mentorship BLOG and appreciated the kind comments he provided. 

Let me share some of our reply, because it gave us opportunity to reflect back on the many wonderful people we've spoken with over the years. It's been great to interview these successful business owners and professionals. And many of them simply enjoy giving back to their communities - sharing what they have learned in business and in life with others.  

Reflecting for a moment, SUCCESS in virtually any field of endeavour is more likely to come only after years of dedication and discipline.  We sometimes hear of the 'overnight success', but the reality is that this "success" has often taken years for these individuals to achieve. And if we want to be totally honest, there are very few success stories that are truly 'solo efforts'. The work that we do, and the work of other successful people has almost always involved others who have had a part in the advancement of that effort. 


And on that note, I close with the words that are inscribed on Andrew Carnegie’s tombstone: “Here lies a man who knew how to enlist in his service better men than himself.”  
(More related to Andrew Carnegie can be seen on our Business Success BLOG at:  http://businesssuccessblog.blogspot.com/


Mentorship can be one of those important relationships that helps people to more quickly and more fully develop into their full potential.  That's why we've added these resources and made them FREELY AVAILABLE for anyone who is looking at developing their potential. 

View some of the video clips that we've put together.  We trust that you will enjoy and learn from our many interviews with people spanning a wide variety of careers and industry sectors.  

Visit our YouTube Channel at:
    http://www.youtube.com/user/ProvisionMentorship

Please feel free to comment on, and pass along the URL for our Mentorship and Business Success BLOGs.

Engaging your Employees through Mentorship

One of the frequent comments that I hear from business owners, particularly in times of growing economic prosperity, is the challenge that they have in retaining quality staff within their organizations.  Many feel that their front door has been replaced by a ‘revolving door’, one that they wish they could slow down!  One successful business owner told me over coffee of how his competitors would frequently be seen just outside the gate of his plant.  He said that their intent was to chat with the workers coming off shift, hoping to lure some of them away with slightly higher wages.  Another business owner seemed near desperation as he searched for ways to stem the exodus of people from his firm.

Elisa Birnbaum, a freelance journalist, producer, and communications consultant living in Toronto, touches on this issue in her June 14, 2011 article, “The Mentor Within”. Elisa’s article can be seen in full on the Charity Village Website at http://www.charityvillage.com/cv/archive/acov/acov11/acov1128.asp

Here is a brief introduction to Elisa’s article, provided to whet the appetite of our readers!  Thank you once again Elisa for your permission to quote from your work.

The Mentor Within  - By Elisa Birnbaum Retention has become the cause célèbre for many organizations. With a particular focus on the younger generation, ideas abound on how to create a working environment that is welcoming, engaging and supportive. An engaged staff is a satisfied one, after all.

But now the question becomes: how best to achieve those goals.

Some are looking to mentorship for answers. Helping one's staff develop skills and acquire knowledge will help move them into leadership roles, develop long-term engagements and take a good swipe at succession issues in the process. That's the theory, anyway. But while informal mentorship opportunities are prevalent, the number of organizations implementing formal, in-house mentorship programs is difficult to estimate and they are admittedly hard to find. Thankfully some were willing to share their experiences running — and developing — formalized programs.

Elisa’s full article goes on to provide examples from the Canadian Red Cross, the YWCA and Vantage Point, to illustrate how mentorship can assist organizations in more fully engaging the people they employ.

Be sure to read Elisa Birnbaum’s full article on the Charity Village Website at: http://www.charityvillage.com/cv/archive/acov/acov11/acov1128.asp

Mentorship INSIGHTS from Al Petersen, Petersen Pontiac Buick GMC (Alta) Inc.

What does it take to succeed in the automotive business?   What does it take to succeed in any business?  Our Featured Mentorship Video for this month is with Al Petersen, of Petersen Pontiac Buick GMC (Alta) Inc.   Al has been a great supporter of business and the community for many years.  I was very pleased to have had the opportunity to speak with him in his office in Sherwood Park, Alberta.  

While we talked about many things, it was very clear that this business leader has build his business on a solid foundation of customer service excellence and developing the business skills of their people over the 25 plus years they have celebrated as an automotive dealership. 

Enjoy the discussion as Al Peterson share his insights related to Mentorship!  Alternately, use the direct link at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRhML-VwPnw

NEW Business Mentorship Program Announced (Strathcona County, Alberta)

Here’s a quick “Shout Out” ... for my friends with Strathcona County Economic Development and Tourism and the Sherwood Park and District Chamber of Commerce who have recently announced a pilot mentorship program for entrepreneurs in Strathcona County. 

The program is available to all business owners at any level of experience.  The pilot program launched on November 1, 2011 and runs for one year.  Mentees and mentors can sign up any time during the first 6 months in order for completion of partnerships by year end (November 2012).

More information is available at:  
http://www.strathcona.ca/departments/Economic_Development_and_Tourism/Business/Business-Mentorship-Program.aspx

Immigrant Entrepreneur Mentorship Program (Alberta, Canada)

The Business Link and its funding partners Alberta Employment and Immigration (AEI) and Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) recently announced an Alberta-wide initiative to promote immigrant entrepreneurs in Edmonton, Calgary, Grande Prairie and rural areas – the Immigrant Entrepreneur Mentorship Program!

 
This comprehensive program features mentorship, business education and networking opportunities to support immigrant business owners in meeting their business goals.

The program launch took place on September 30th and the pilot will run until June 2012. More information is available at: http://iemp.ca/

Learning from Others ...

It's amazing to realize how much we can learn simply from watching others. We see what they do, and frequently try to replicate those actions. But the learning process doesn't always result in perfection after the first attempt!  Practice, observation, feedback and improvement all have a role to play in our efforts to master the skills that we wish to acquire.

Mentorship provides us with an opportunity to gather important feedback - feedback that is so critical to our improvement. It's not that the Mentee will do things exactly the way that the Mentor has done it, but rather that the experience of the Mentor can act as an outside source to compare with or contract against the direction, decision and discovery made by the Mentee.

We mentioned on our "Business Success" BLOG, that we recently had opportunity to take in the now world-famous production, STOMP.  I had some preconceived ideas of what the show was going to be like, so I went to it prepared!  I had a set of ear plugs, just in case the volume became too overwhelming, and I also brought a couple of extra sets of ear plugs that I could pass along to others in our little group ... you know, just in case they were needed!  :)

Well ... with respect to the show, let me say that the ear plugs were NOT required. In fact, the entire evening was a very pleasant surprise and totally enjoyable. I found it to be VERY INTERACTIVE with the audience, funny, and in a word, captivating.  I would recommend it as a definite production to take in - and I was really surprised to see so many children in the audience. 

NOW ... coming back to MENTORSHIP ... the point that I wanted to make is simply this ... MENTORS can add great value and perspective to those they would Mentor. It's important to remember that the decisions being made are the responsibility of the person being Mentored - the Mentee/Protege. As was evident in the production of STOMP, we interact with many different people in our lives.  We can always learn from others, and others can learn from us. Some will learn from us and do well - others will learn and do better (than us).  That's okay.

We invite your suggestions in a comment to this POST, on HOW CAN WE BETTER LEARN FROM OTHERS?

REGARDING "STOMP": (from http://www.stomp.co.uk/about/)

STOMP is a group of people, with very strong personalities, who work together using simple building blocks to create something complex , something everyone can identify with: everyone has, at some time, to engage in group activity, whether they like or know the people they are working with or not. It’s the little idiosyncrasies, the differences between people, and the games of one-upmanship that ensue, which define the group dynamic.

STOMP has no words – everyone can understand it. It has little or no melody in the traditional sense, so it doesn’t matter if your taste in music is jazz, classical, dance or pop. STOMP is about rhythm, which is common to all cultures. Everyone knows rhythm, if only from the beating of their own heart – it is the basis of all music.

BTW - there is a very funny sketch on NBC's Website from Saturday Night Live that I recommend you watch. It was referenced on the STOMP Website and comes with their endorsement!

Link to the SNL Digital Short: Stomp

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/snl-digital-short-stomp/1359562

"Stories that Mentor" - a NEW series.

We are very pleased to announce the start of a new series of video clips on our YouTube Channel. "Stories that Mentor" - is focused on gathering a wide variety of stories that convey a deeper level of wisdom and learning to audiences.  In one of the first of several short videos, Dan Jelinski (Wisdom Speaks) shares an "archetypal story" that spans from Aesop in ancient Greece, to North America's First Nations people, and the Six Nations Confederacy. 

Dan is a gifted storyteller, who continues the passing on of wisdom through oral tradition - story telling!  Thank you once again Dan, for sharing your stories with this audience. 

Here is a direct link to this wonderful addition to "Stories that Mentor".

http://youtu.be/iNVVakUv2P4 

Mentorship INSIGHTS from Jared Smith, Principal at "Incite"

September was such a busy month ... but I was really pleased to have been able to get together with Jared Smith, Principal at "Incite" in Edmonton.  Jared and his team have done some amazing things within the business community, and the community at large!  Always interested in helping others to develop, Jared took some time out of his very busy schedule to talk with us, and shared some of his Mentorship experiences. 

Take a moment to to listen to this interview and you'll understand the significance of the relationship-driven approach that this business takes with customer care. It's no surprise that Incite has developed meaningful, long-term client relationships that have resulted in profitable and sustainable marketing strategies for their valued clients.

Here is a direct link to Jared's interview on our YouTube Channel: 

         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3Aw-xHLwpI

Investing in Others - the Mentor's ROI

"ROI" - Return on Investment.  What is the investment that a Mentor makes into the life of a Mentee?  Here are a few thoughts.

I recently connected with Elisa Birnbaum, a freelance journalist, producer, and communications consultant living in Toronto.  Ian Hope kindly pointed out Elisa's article that was seen in a July 21, 2011 publication of Charity Village.  (Thanks Ian.) I contacted Elisa and was very pleased to receive her permission to quote from her work, which can be seen in full, as of the date of this Post at:  http://www.charityvillage.com/cv/research/rcar63.html

I love the introduction that Elisa has used in her article. I think that many of us can identify with the dilemma, that inner conflict that we can go through, as we try to balance the many 'good things' that call for the attention of our limited time and resources. What commitments do we accept, what do we retain and which do we release?  These are all questions that course through our minds, right?

* The challenge that I would put to you is simply: "Try to describe the inner conversation that you have when deciding whether or not to continue in a mentoring relationship."

Suggested Video Clips: You may find the Video Clip interviews done with David Abday and Dan Gaynor to be helpful as they both touch on how to work through some of these delicate issues within a Mentorship relationship. View either, or both of these on our YouTube Channel:  http://www.youtube.com/user/ProvisionMentorship

Here is the introduction to Elisa's article. I encourage you to read it in its entirety at the link provided above.

"M is for Mentor" - By Elisa Birnbaum (July 21, 2011)

In the 100th episode of NBC's 30 Rock, the mentor-mentee relationship between Jack Donoghy and Liz Lemon is at a cataclysmic crossroad. Jack, played by Alec Baldwin, is re-evaluating his decision to take Tina Fey's Liz Lemon under his wing. Concluding the relationship is weighing him down, he decides to move on, then imagines the consequences of not stopping Liz from moving in with her deadbeat boyfriend. Guessing they'll get married and move to Jacksonville, Florida, he's aghast. "Jacksonville?!" he cries, "Her hair can't handle that humidity!" With that, he rushes to his mentee's aid, re-affirming his status in her perpetually conflicted life.

Not all mentors are as dedicated to their mentee's intractable tresses, but many stories attest to the impact of these relationships on one's professional — and personal — paths. Far from being one-shot deals, mentees report turning to a variety of mentors over the course of their careers, each offering something new and valuable that helps one to grow and succeed.

Elisa's full article provides a couple of wonderful examples of people sharing their experiences with mentorship and how it has helped to shape both their careers and their lives. She goes further and provides some great suggestions to help people fine the right mentorship match, where to look for potential mentors and addresses the delicate art of managing expectations within the Mentorship relationship. Her article makes for an interesting and informative read, which I fully recommend. 

Thank you Elisha for allowing me to share from your work. Elisa is also president of Elle Communications and can be reached at: info@ellecommunications.ca

Finding a Mentoring Partner - Ian Hope's Comments

Ian Hope, of Hope and Partners took some time out of his busy schedule to talk with me regarding mentorship. He provided a wealth of information. Thank you Ian! Our interview is NOW available for viewing on our YouTube Channel where you can hear additional comments from Ian.
     * Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/user/ProvisionMentorship

NOW, here are a few of the key thoughts that Ian provided to encourage those who are considering being involved in a Mentorship relationship.

I’d urge anyone interested in developing others, or in developing themselves to seek out such a relationship.  Best also that the mentor not have a direct responsibility in the workplace for the performance or results of the mentoree.  Mentorees should be sure to find a mentor who they feel comfortable with, and who they feel has the skills and qualities that they would like to develop within themselves.

Mentors should be sure that they have a real interest in the mentoree’s career, that they have the time and energy to commit to the relationship, and that they will be comfortable communicating with that person.

FYI – see other comments from Ian Hope on our Mentorship Blog under the Posts:

July 1/11 - Stories of Mentorship
June 25/11 - TIPS - to Develop the Mentorship Relationship
May 23/11 - CONFIDENTIALITY - Key Success Factor
May 1/11 - What is MENTORSHIP?

TIPS - Finding the Right Mentor

Let's be honest ... Mentorship IS a "Relationship" - and like all relationships they require an investment of time and effort if they are to become what we would like them to be. So it really makes sense to have a good understanding on the 'front end' of what you are looking for in the relationship, and assess the likelihood of any potential mentoring partner in helping you reach that destination. 

Here are a few tips that may help you in finding a great Mentorship relationship. After reading them and watching the recommended video clip, please add a few tips of your own as a comment to this post!

Credit where credit is due - This Post was sparked by reading a recent article that I encourage you to read in full. It was called: How to Benefit from a Mentor Relationship - written by Heather Huhman and posted on July 8, 2011 at http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2011/07/08/how-to-benefit-from-a-mentor-relationship-

Huhman rightly points out that, "... a mentor can be a great resource, especially if you find one who has navigated your industry before and has ample experience. This individual is a prime source of support, constructive criticism, and unbiased advice when it comes to your job opportunities, workplace conflicts, and much more."

This exact point is wonderfully illustrated in an interview that I had with Tony Bishop, a long-time personal friend and one-time colleague.  Tony has spoken with hundreds of business owners and seen many business plans as a former private sector Business Consultant and recently, a retired instructor at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT).  In our conversation, Tony provides some great suggestions on how an entrepreneur can find information and insights on unusual types of businesses.  The example he uses is that of a scrap steel business where industry information is more difficult to locate. This is where having a Mentor with specific industry experience can prove to be invaluable!

Huhman also recommends that Proteges "... be prepared to dedicate time towards the relationship, as not much is gained from a relationship with little effort and time put into it."

To this point, Tony adds some outstanding tips in our interview on how to make the best use of the limited time with your Mentorship partner.  He stresses the importance of understanding what the time commitments are going to be, setting some rules for when the two of you will get together and being disciplined in the relationship.  (As a side note, I love the quote that Tony heard from Jim Pattison of The Jim Pattison Group.)

Watch Tony's full interview on our YouTube Channel at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOTCndIaxks&feature=related

Huhman also suggests the following practical tips to find the right mentor:

• Look for someone with goals similar to your own.
• Take the initiative to contact the individual.

Stories of Mentoring

Stories have a way of speaking to us and can reach us at many different levels. I recall hearing a couple of Mentorship stories that were shared by Professor David Clutterbuck, Practice Lead, Clutterbuck Associates during his presentation at the APEGGA Mentorship Conference in Calgary, Alberta (October 2010).

Professor Clutterbuck very kindly took a moment out of his travels to email me the text version while he was in Ghana.  (Thank you very much.) With his permission, I am pleased to post them for you now. 

• What thoughts, truths or principles come to your mind as you read these stories?
• Are there some additional mentorship related stories that you could recommend to our readers?

Add your comments to this post, and we'll look forward to sharing them with others soon.

Here are two stories provided by Professor Clutterbuck:

Stories of mentoring - I have been trying for some time to collect stories from different cultures, which parallel the ancient myth of Mentor. It seems that the concept of an older, wiser person, developing the wisdom in a younger person, is very common. Two of my favourite stories – one positive and one showing the dark side of mentoring – are below:

Positive: From West Africa. A young boy’s father is dying. He tells his son: "Under the big rock outside the hut is everything you will need to become a great warrior.” Encouraged by his mother, every day the child attempts to move the rock. Although he pushes with all his strength, it does not budge. Eventually, at the age of 16, he feels a small amount of give. Then at 18, he rolls the rock away and finds underneath it a sword and shield. “How will this make me a great warrior?” he asks, disappointed. “Just look at your muscles,” says his mother...

Negative: India (the story of Eklavya from the epic Mahabarat). The poor young boy watches the guru train the children of rich men in archery. He copies what he sees and, through practice, eventually becomes so good that he is able to win an archery competition, beating all the guru’s students. Buoyed up with his success, he approaches the guru to ask if he can become one of his protégés. By custom, the guru may demand a gift from new acolytes. This guru, offended at the young boy’s success, tells him the gift he requires is “Your thumbs”

TIPS - to Develop the Mentorship Relationship

We would really like to gather TIPS on developing the Mentorship Relationship from you. What have you seen that would be mutually beneficial?


Here is one that we've put into our "Ten Tips to Effective Mentorship" document:

Tip # 2: To help your relationship to develop, make an effort to share insights regarding yourself with your Mentor or Protégé. Be prepared to open up and show your personal side, the real you, as well as the professional you! Talk with your mentorship partner about your personal attributes, dreams, personal goals, strengths, as well as some of those areas you still want to improve!

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN ... add your TIP as a Comment to this Post.  :)

What’s the differences - coaching and mentoring?

People often ask:  What’s the differences between coaching and mentoring? It’s a good question, and if you’ve done some research on Mentorship, you will have noticed that responses widely differ, leaving a lot of confusion. To shed some light on this, here are some enlightening comments from Professor David Clutterbuck,  Practice Lead, Clutterbuck Associates. These are taken from the notes that I took during his session at the APEGGA Mentorship Conference in Calgary, Alberta in October 2010, Please give them some thought, see if they help you, and feel free to add your thoughts as a comment to this post. Thanks.

David Clutterbuck’s comments: If you know where the conversation is going, and have a clear scheme in your mind for the discussion ... it’s not mentoring.  Where you get to in a Mentoring conversation may not be where you originally intended ... it’s a journey of discovery, a creative conversation.

On the other hand, coaches typically have you do something. They observe you and provide you with some feedback. As a result of following their direction, improvements can quickly result.  While there may be some long-term develop that occurs, the main focus is on improving your immediate results.

Coaching is always about performance, it’s about ‘doing’. Whereas, Mentoring is about development, it’s about ‘becoming’ more than what you are now.



Following the APEGGA Mentorship Conference, I came across the following from an article by Professor David Clutterbuck.  It seemed to address this puzzling question and was titled, ENSURING COACHING & MENTORING DELIVER REAL VALUE TO INDIVIDUALS & ORGANISATIONS (2005).

Confusion about what is meant by coaching, mentoring and other forms of development, he says, leads to a mismatch of expectations between participants. Enjoy the balance of Clutterbuck’s explanation and then share your comments to this post.

Terminological confusion: There are at least two major types or styles of both coaching and mentoring.

Traditional coaching, as typified in sports coaching is a system for imparting skills and improving performance, using observation and feedback by the coach.

Developmental coaching has the same goals, but uses a much greater level of self- observation, reflection and self-feedback by the learners – the coach’s role is essentially to help them coach themselves. There is often a high emphasis on behaviour change.

Sponsoring mentoring, derived from US practice and still the dominant model in N. America, is a relationship in which a senior person uses their influence and experience to guide the career of someone more junior. It is generally a one-way learning activity that places high emphasis on career achievements and on direct intervention by the mentor.

Developmental mentoring is largely independent of the power issues, although the mentor’s greater experience is important. It is a two-way exchange of learning, where personal growth is the critical outcome (which may or may not lead to career achievement). The emphasis is on helping the other learning partner do things for him/herself.

People describing themselves as executive coaches or life coaches, for example, might operate in any of these styles, or a blend of several. Successful learning relationships therefore need to define clearly what each party expects in terms of approach and behaviours. It’s also important to examine the experience and qualifications of people offering coaching and mentoring services to determine how relevant they are to the approach expected.

CONFIDENTIALITY - Key Success Factor

What are your thoughts on the importance of CONFIDENTIALITY  within a positive MENTORSHIP relationship, or any business related relationship for that matter?

Please add your thoughts as a comment to this post.

Feel free to talk about its importance, and share an example you’ve seen which illustrates either the potential positive impact or negative associated results.

What is MENTORSHIP?

I was talking with a successful business owner not that long ago when the topic of our conversation turned to Mentorship. They said that they felt they had been 'mentored' by a number of people through the use of Books, DVD and CD educational materials.  While not disputing the value of resources like this as a part of the learning process, I admit that I struggled with the concept of these resources being a substitute for a personal mentoring relationship. So I put the question out to you for comment. What are your thoughts, your reaction or experience related to this suggestion?  

Please add your thoughts to our question: "What is Mentorship?" HOW would you DEFINE IT?

Mentoring Stories - What's Your Favourite?

"Tuesdays with Morrie" - by Mitch Albom


My wife and I went to see the Mayfield Dinner Theatre version of this wonderful story when it was in Edmonton.  Jamie Farr (from M.A.S.H. fame) played the role of Morrie, and Rejean Cournoyer did a great job with the role of Mitch. By the end of the evening, I would be very surprised if there was a dry eye in the house! 


For those not familiar with the story, it is told through the recollections of Mitch Albom, a self-absorbed, career-focused, sports writer who has seemly lost sight of the important things in life as he pursues success in his chosen field. 


Perhaps it was to make amends for having not kept a promise to stay in touch, that Mitch reconnects with Morrie Schwartz, his former college professor and one time Mentor. Nearly twenty years have lapsed and Morrie is now slowly losing his battle with ALS - Lou Gehrig’s Disease. With time slipping away, Mitch agrees to come for another visit, and so begins an eventual series of Tuesday meetings.  As they meet, a significant transformation takes place, as a wise Mentor shares many of the lessons learned, and thus helps his Protege become a more balanced and wiser human being.  Tuesdays with Morrie is a great story with much to say to those who find themselves 'busy' with the many things that call for our attention.


I like the following comments that were found on the Random House Publishing website: 

Maybe it was a grandparent, or a teacher, or a colleague. Someone older, patient and wise, who understood you when you were young and searching, helped you see the world as a more profound place, gave you sound advice to help you make your way through it.

For Mitch Albom, that person was Morrie Schwartz, his college professor from nearly twenty years ago. Maybe, like Mitch, you lost track of this mentor as you made your way, and the insights faded, and the world seemed colder. Wouldn't you like to see that person again, ask the bigger questions that still haunt you, receive wisdom for your busy life today the way you once did when you were younger?

Mitch Albom had that second chance. He rediscovered Morrie in the last months of the older man's life. Knowing he was dying, Morrie visited with Mitch in his study every Tuesday, just as they used to back in college. Their rekindled relationship turned into one final "class": lessons in how to live.

Tuesdays with Morrie is a magical chronicle of their time together, through which Mitch shares Morrie's lasting gift with the world.  After four years on the New York Times bestseller list, Tuesdays with Morrie is at last available in paperback.

     Sourced from: http://www.randomhouse.com/features/morrie/

"Tuesdays with Morrie" - by Mitch Albom provides us with very helpful insight into the richness that can develop within a Mentor and a Protege (Mentee) relationship.  In this case, there was a significant gap between the early stages of the relationship and the deeper learning that occurred at the close of their time together. Perhaps this experience reminds us to carefully consider the long-term impact of decisions made today, and that there is much to be gained in cultivating those significant relationships that increase the quality of our lives.

There are many more great examples out there ... please add your comments on this, or on another story, movie or television show that depicts Mentorship.  What lessons can be learned? How did the story impact you?

Mentors deliver hope! (The Jackie Robinson Story)

Mentors have a way of saying just the right words, at the right time. THIS POST is comprised of four parts – An Introduction, The News Report, Hope Story and CBC archived video clip. After reviewing each, please take a moment to think about how we can ‘make a difference’ in the places where we live, work and play.  As always, your comments are welcome!

1) Introduction:  As I watched the television news the other night, amid the chaos, uncertainty and desperation that so frequently grab the headlines, one particular story caught my eye. It was a story with cross-border, as well as cross-cultural significance. It reminded me of something I had read elsewhere, ...a behind the scene story that demonstrates the significant impact a Mentor can play in the development of another individual’s full potential.

2) The News Report: I watched and listened with great interest on Feb. 28, 2011 as another very fitting tribute was paid to Jackie Robinson. While the sport of baseball is known as ‘America’s Game’, this ceremony took place on Canadian soil, in Montreal’s Villeray area, just a few blocks away from Jarry Park, where Canada's first major league team, the Montreal Expos, played from 1969 to 1976.

Dignitaries reported by the Montreal Gazette came from both sides of the border, including: the U.S. ambassador to Canada, David Jacobson; Lee McClenny, the U.S. consul general in Montreal; Quebec Minister of Education, Leisure and Sport, Line Beauchamp and Montreal Mayor, Gérald Tremblay. Along side them was Sharon Robinson, vice-chair of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, and daughter of Jackie and Rachel Robinson.

It struck me that while Sharon Robinson must have been extremely and rightfully proud of her parents, perhaps a small measure of pride might also be taken by those citizens of Montreal who welcomed, befriended and embraced this family of ‘newcomers’ to Canada. As individuals, the residents of this community may feel that they had little impact on the outcome of this story. Yet it was their individual and collective acceptance, their willingness to provide ‘the newcomer’ with an opportunity to contribute, a chance of finding a place, to contribute to the betterment of their community ...this was the fertile soil that became the seed-bed of hope. It was through an openness and willingness to find harmony amidst that which was different, that a difference was made. And in having been a part of the process of positive change, these individuals, this community and perhaps even this country, may take a modest, but none-the-less deserved moment to reflect and relish the significance of their kindness.

A commemorative plaque was unveiled at the house where Jackie Robinson and his wife, Rachel, lived in 1946, when Robinson played for the Montreal Royals in the Class AAA International League.

The plaque reads (in English and French, Canada’s two official languages): Hall of Fame baseball legend and civil rights leader Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson and wife, Rachel, lived in this house when he played with the Montreal Royals in the Class AAA International League in 1946. The first black Major League Baseball player in the modern era, Robinson became a powerful symbol of hope an inspiration to millions with his grace, dignity and determination.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Baseball+great+home+away+from+hate/4362662/story.html

3) Hope Story:  (I was reminded of this story as I watched the news report noted above.)
Rey Carr of Peer Resources drew my attention to some of the personal stories of people who have been positively influenced and inspired others through mentorship. This particular story is taken from:  http://www.mentors.ca/Story13.pdf

When Jackie Robinson was signed by Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers, he became the first African- American to play major league baseball. “Number 42” became the target of considerable racist hatred and death threats. Branch Rickey had warned him that things would be tough and that he should learn to turn the other cheek. Prior to one game, however, Jackie received a telephone call that brought him to his tipping point. He was so devastated he couldn’t concentrate of the game and struck out with the bases loaded. In another inning he made a fielding error. The crowd escalated their obscenities.

Then Pee Wee Reese, the white, shortstop from Kentucky and Jackie’s teammate called a time-out. Pee Wee put his arm around Robinson and said, “Jackie, let me tell you something. I believe in you. You are the greatest ballplayer I have ever seen. You can do it. I know that. And I know something else: One of these days you are going into the Hall of Fame. So, hold your head up high and play ball like only you can do it.” Robinson was uplifted by those words and went on to deliver the game-winning hit for his team.

Many years later when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, Robinson recalled that day on the field with Pee Wee. “He saved my life and my career that day. I had lost my confidence, and Pee Wee picked me up with his words of encouragement. He gave me hope when all hope was gone.”


4) From the CBC Digital Archives: To better understand the significance of the groundbreaking achievements of Jackie Robinson, please view this great report from CBC/Radio-Canada.

“Jackie Robinson, the first black pro in baseball” Broadcast Date: May 8, 1987
http://archives.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/clips/3322/

Beginning Stage - Orientation and Training Sessions

I recently read an interesting article by Professor David Clutterbuck, Practice Lead, Clutterbuck Associates. It was posted in The OCM Coach and Mentor Journal 2010. Having met him in late 2010, and having some personal experience in the establishment of mentorship programs, I found the article, “Who and what makes mentoring programmes work?” to be both informative and a confirmation of many of those elements that we’ve found to be useful in mentorship programs.

Clutterbuck reaffirms that it is the well-designed, well-managed program that delivers superior results, and I certainly agree. There are several keys to success in launching a great mentorship program. Allow me to add a few comments related to a few things that we believe should be included in the “Beginning” stage of the good mentorship program.

We recommend that an appropriate orientation and training session be provided for both mentors and protégés (mentees). This can really position the program participants for success. Not only does it allow them to more fully understand their various roles, it should also provide a safe environment to familiarize themselves with the basic skills and interpersonal behaviours that can be reasonably anticipated within the forthcoming mentoring relationship.

Why is that so important? As Clutterbuck states, “Typically, where both mentors and mentees have been trained, and line managers briefed, over 90% of relationships deliver significant learning and are valued by participants. By contrast, programmes without training rarely deliver significant value for more than a third of participants.”

In one of our first engagements, Pro-Vision Solutions Inc. facilitated an Orientation Session that introduced the concept of mentorship to members of a business networking group. While the group they were in continued to fill a valid need for the members, this subset was interested in the benefits of participating in a more comprehensive, one to one mentorship program. A few weeks after the Orientation Session, many of these people attended a focussed Training Session providing them with in depth, hands-on experience, similar to that suggested by Clutterbuck. Attendees were free to ask questions prior to entering into the working relationship with their Mentor or Protégé. Reflecting back, the response from attendees to both sessions was overwhelmingly positive. In our opinion, the orientation and training provided on the front end, allowed for a much smoother running program, requiring less intervention on the part of the organization and program manager.