If you don't have a mentor or coach, but you wanted to try to coach yourself. Is it possible? Yes it is, but much harder than if you get a mentor or coach. It may sound strange to you, but working with obstacles is often where you really get to know yourself. This is also where you find a deeper and more honest path to your goals. You can try the following exercise: Ask yourself two questions: 1. What is stopping me from reaching my goal? 2. What am I really afraid of in relation to my goal? Write down your answers and make a list of all your obstacles. Note to self: Avoid superficial explanations such as lack of time, insight and resources. Instead, examine whether there is anything you fear about the process of achieving the goal. When you do this work with yourself, the answer will maybe be a form of fear that is not necessarily rooted in reality... Photo by madison lavern on Unsplash.com
Amazon mentoring program
I read that Amazon had a mentoring program for their employee through Mike Kang in Chronus and his newsletter. The Amazon mentoring team and Mike Chan even had a webinar where they talked about why mentoring is a top priority in Amazon, what types of programs they’re currently running (and for what purposes), how they’re measuring impactful mentoring and how Amazon has scaled its programs to more than 179,000 employees.
I have earlier (November 2019) write about Amazon and their peer-to-peer mentoring at Amazon work
Watch this fireside chat with Amazon’s Melony Menard, Senior Program Manager, Global Learning and Development, and Carla Love, Program Manager, Global Learning and Development to learn more about:
- Why mentoring is a top priority at Amazon
- The variety of programs Amazon is currently running
- How they’re measuring impactful mentoring
- How Amazon scales its programs
Visit their website her:
Listen to the webinar her, its about one hour:
The Significance of Ethics in Mentoring and Coaching – Part 1
Introduction
Mentoring and coaching are powerful tools for personal and professional development. They offer individuals the opportunity to learn from experienced mentors and coaches, helping them grow and achieve their goals. However, the effectiveness of mentoring and coaching is greatly enhanced when they are conducted with a strong ethical foundation. In these two articles, we will explore why ethics is important in mentoring and coaching and how it contributes to the success of these relationships.
- Trust and Confidentiality
Ethics plays a fundamental role in establishing and maintaining trust in mentoring and coaching relationships. Trust is the cornerstone of any successful mentoring or coaching partnership. When individuals seek guidance and support from mentors or coaches, they must feel safe and confident that their personal and professional information will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.
Ethical guidelines dictate that mentors and coaches must respect the confidentiality of their mentees or clients. This ensures that mentees can open up about their challenges, fears, and aspirations without fear of judgment or disclosure. Trust forms the foundation of a productive and transformative mentoring or coaching relationship.
- Respect and Non-discrimination
Ethics in mentoring and coaching also emphasize the importance of respect and non-discrimination. Every individual is unique, with their own values, beliefs, and experiences. Ethical mentors and coaches recognize and respect these differences, creating a space that is inclusive and non-judgmental.
Respecting the diversity of mentees or clients helps build a supportive and nurturing environment where they feel valued and understood. This, in turn, fosters a more open and constructive exchange of ideas and insights, ultimately leading to greater personal and professional growth.
Remember to read my next post as well to get the rest of why ethics is important.
The talk – a new podcast from MentorGuru
I have launched a new podcast called «The talk» at Spotify, in the beginning it will be in Norwegian, but some episodes will also be in English.
So if you know or wants to hear/learn Norwegian a link to the Spotify and start listening, there is 5 episodes out already…
Design thinking approach in designing your life
Many of you felt something was missing when finished education and starting your first job, Bill Burnett and Dave Evans at Stanford University thought the same for their students. And after teaching design in Stanford University for several years, they realized that their students didn’t have much of an idea about how to kick off their new lives after they graduate. They needed help to design their lives.
Therefore, they created the “Designing Your Life” elective course in Stanford to teach their students how to apply design thinking to their lives and build their careers with fulfillment and joy. The course became the most popular elective in Stanford. Shortly after, its fame expanded to the tech companies in Silicon Valley. Google even has an internal group of facilitators to deliver the “Designing Your Life” program to its employees. For the ones who cannot attend live workshops in the US, Burnett and Evans wrote the book, “Designing Your Life” to share what they teach with the rest of the world.
I saw this very interesting article on Kingstown College website.
Read more about Designing you life and Sinem Bahadırlı and here why into the design thinking world.
3 steps to plan your success
Planning is half the job and the results are only as good as your plan
Its a lot of different sayings, but does it make us plan? Does the difference between failure and success lays in a plan? I don’t know, but I do now that with a plan you are more focused… And I believe in focus — focus will get you there.
- Sit down and make a plan and set goals.
- Just do what your plan says
- Reflect over the plan, what you have been done and the outcome
You maybe think this sounds very easy and maybe to easy, but before you reject it try it first.
I think it is so simple, make a plan with goals, do it and then reflect over the result…
Merry Covid- 19 free Christmas
I really hope its over now and we can have a pandemic free 2022, best of luck for everyone…
Leadership When It Matters Most: Should Mentoring Be a Part of the Equation? – Part 2
As written in the last post leadership is a critical component of any organization’s success, and it is never more apparent than in times of crisis or when important decisions need to be made.
Examples of Effective Leadership and Mentoring
Several real-world examples illustrate the positive impact of mentoring in leadership during critical moments:
- Nelson Mandela: Mandela’s leadership during South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy is often lauded. He leaned on the wisdom of his mentors, including Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu, who helped shape his leadership style and approach to reconciliation.
- Steve Jobs: While leading Apple through periods of innovation and turbulence, Jobs provided mentorship to key executives like Tim Cook, shaping the future of the company even in his absence.
- Winston Churchill: Churchill’s mentorship of key figures in his wartime government, such as Anthony Eden, played a pivotal role in the United Kingdom’s success during World War II.
In times of crisis and when important decisions loom, effective leadership is crucial for an organization’s survival and success. However, leadership is not a solitary endeavor; it is enriched by the inclusion of mentoring. Mentoring can provide invaluable support, knowledge transfer, and skill development for leaders when they need it most.
Leaders who prioritize mentoring during critical moments not only benefit themselves but also contribute to the growth and development of future leaders. As the saying goes, «Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.» By incorporating mentoring into their leadership practices, leaders can better fulfill this essential role, ensuring that they and their teams successfully navigate the challenges that come their way.
Leadership When It Matters Most: Should Mentoring Be a Part of the Equation? – Part 1
Leadership is a critical component of any organization’s success, and it is never more apparent than in times of crisis or when important decisions need to be made. Whether it’s navigating a global pandemic, facing financial hardships, or dealing with a major industry disruption, effective leadership can make all the difference. But what role does mentoring play in leadership when it matters most? Should leaders prioritize mentorship during challenging times? This article explores the intersection of leadership and mentoring and highlights the benefits of incorporating mentoring into leadership practices during crucial moments.
The Importance of Leadership During Critical Times
Leadership is not just about guiding a team during smooth sailing; it’s about steering the ship through turbulent waters. When an organization faces a crisis or is confronted with a significant decision, strong and visionary leadership becomes paramount. Effective leaders must inspire confidence, provide direction, and offer solutions when the going gets tough. They must also maintain morale, communicate transparently, and adapt swiftly to changing circumstances.
Leadership, however, is not solely about the person in charge but extends to the team as a whole. Leaders are tasked with developing the skills and capabilities of their team members to ensure the organization can overcome challenges collectively.
The Role of Mentoring in Leadership
Mentoring is a practice that involves an experienced individual (the mentor) guiding and supporting a less-experienced person (the mentee) in their personal or professional development. While mentoring is often associated with career growth and skill-building, it also plays a crucial role in leadership development, particularly during times of crisis or important decision-making.
Here are some reasons why mentoring should be a part of leadership when it matters most:
- Knowledge Transfer: Mentoring allows experienced leaders to share their wisdom, knowledge, and expertise with emerging leaders. During critical moments, this knowledge transfer can be invaluable in making informed decisions and navigating complex situations.
- Emotional Support: Leadership during challenging times can be emotionally taxing. Mentoring provides a safe space for leaders to discuss their concerns, fears, and uncertainties with a trusted mentor, which can help alleviate stress and improve decision-making.
- Skill Development: Effective leaders possess a wide range of skills, including communication, adaptability, and problem-solving. Mentoring provides an opportunity for mentees to develop these skills under the guidance of experienced leaders.
- Accountability: Mentoring relationships often involve setting goals and tracking progress. This accountability can be particularly beneficial during high-stress periods, ensuring that leaders stay focused on their objectives.
- Perspective and Feedback: Mentors can offer valuable outside perspectives and honest feedback, helping leaders make more informed decisions and avoid potential pitfalls.
Read my next blogpost where I write more about this theme.
Redesigning the Future
«Redesigning the Future» was the theme of this summer’s conference hosted by EMCC Global (digital), the 27th in a row. In these post-corona times, it is quite right to think in new directions. We have seen a boom of webinars and now it is the new channel for us and also the podcast is coming. Our global president Riza Kadilar mentioned in 2019 a coaching app that had 500,000 downloads this summer (2021) the same app 2.5 million downloads.
I do not think anyone will lose the job of a robot, but we must find ways to integrate our work and practice with relevant technology. At the same time, we must also find ways to create digital communities where we can improve the ongoing dialogue between recipients and practitioners.
EMCC focuses on the digital that will play and save role to improve our services and our offerings and at the same time they will also put and special focus on hosting platforms.
In any case, I think I am at the forefront of development when I am a member of an organization with over 10,000 members in 85 different countries that has this as its focus.
At least I’m excited to being part of redesigning the future the EMCC way … what about you?