Learn from classical music

 

How to be a good mentor? Practitioners of classical music have much to teach, says musician, Norwegian Champion winner in tennis and scientist Ingrid Røynesdal. 

(from august 2008 by Nina Kraft)

 

Røynesdal believe corporations has much to learn of how the sportcoaches reveal the best from the atlets with close follow-up, and the coaches put up ambitious programs for personal development. 

 

But even more, she meens that business can learn from classical music. Musicians can at least just as closely follow-up and learningmasters is other top-musicians. 

 The most talented supporting a mass, very tough criticism, according to Røynesdal. A piano master who coach a young and promising pianist, can be merciless. 

 

It is also common to throw the younger out of the deep water and give her big tasks. That is good – but the premise is that the younger generation knows that her talent will be fully seen and recognized. 

 

Talents are spur of the criticism, if it is reasoned, honest and legitimate. In the business world, I have noticed a tendency to not say anything, perhaps because it is uncomfortable. It is much worse, she believes. 

 In addition, mentors for a talent should take care of the pleasure to perform. That´s were the pianist looks the most obvious difference to the business sector. 

 – The most talented are driven by their enjoyment of the job, "says Røynesdal.

Training Weekend in the Archipelago of Gothenburg

 The day before the training in JCI Gothenburg we went over to the city of Gothenburg, my wife, Lina (from Syria) and I. We had booked us into a nice hotel in the center for relaxing, enjoy and to show Lina the town (since my wife is from Sweden). After the tour of the city, Lina and I had time to plan the next day’s training before it was time for dinner in a town restaurant. 

 

 After 1 hour’s drive against the norwegian border, the training could start. The training "The Big Five" with Lina as co trainer for the first time. The participants were quickly tested himself as a mentor and mentee. The training is specifically structured so that there is so little time as possible to the theory and explanations, but a lot of time to practice. The first exercise where the mentee will talk only and mentor to listen (and do not show any signs to follow, or say something) is a practice that creates an aha experience. Here is where the importance of body language and to follow and immerse themselves in conversation. 

 

 Then, we went on where the mentor in the next exercise could ask questions, and here things is starting to fall into places. And all are amazed at how quickly time passes. Last exercise is where the mentor can come with questions, feedback, and not least, the mentor should try to get the mentee to reach a deadline. "When are you going to…"

 

 The exercises and not least the number of exercises will allow participants to get tested as a mentor several times, and that is the meaning. Learn it and do it! 

 

 On the way, we had several discussions related to the exercises and how they think it was and if the mentee thought that the mentor did well or something that mentor could improve. But all the trainings come to an end and unfortunately this also did, after four hours it was over and the participants an experience richer. 

 

After a training people will always be discussing things or ask more questions, so also this time. And as trainers is Lina and I especially happy when the participants are telling us that this was a surprisingly practical training. And that was what made it special and good, namely that the tools they could now go out in life and use. Already the next day, they actually could start to be a mentor on the job or in their spare time, or perhaps in the marriage. 

 

 I hope that some of the interesting ideas that emerged in the training becomes a reality, that JCI Gothenburg start a mentor program. That way, more people could get even better personal development and achieve their goals. 

 

 THANK YOU, JCI Gothenburg, Thank you from Lina and Thor-Erik. 

Where Passion Meets Purpose

I come over this community for people who want to share their unique skills with others.

MentorWorks blends mentoring, coaching and consulting services from trusted knowledge experts, creating a one-of-a-kind marketplace to learn skills and find resources.

www.mentorworks.ca

I sign up for a membership today, it´s free, I´m looking forward to try it.

You can also follow them at twitter twitter.com/mentorworks

Most Outstanding Trainer in Europe 2009

My partner in Trainifique ( http://www.trainifique.com ) visited the largest radiostation in Norway for an interviewed yesterday (27/5-09) to talk about his nomination as the Most Outstanding Trainer in Europe 2009.

Read more and hear the program (sorry, it is only in Norwegian) in his blogg: http://www.bebetter.no

Why Join a mentor program?

Joining a mentoring program is a very powerful tool that can help you reach your potential because of the training and empowerment it provides. Mentoring is also one of the most effective ways for you to advance in your career because your skills are developed and your performance is monitored.

In short, mentoring enables you to be the person you really want to be.

A mentor will help a mentee believe in his or her capabilities as a person. Because of this, the self-confidence of the mentee will be improved and they will be more apt to accept more challenges in the future. The mentor would also enable the mentee to explore new ideas so that you can achieve a higher level of self-assurance in yourself and explore even greater highs of success. The mentoring program will be an opportunity for you to take a deeper look at yourself, your goals, your personality, and your life. This will enable you to know which the right path you should take in life is.

I found this on http://www.linkroll.com/mentoring/ and it was so good written and described.

The Houdini technique

Make easy things look difficult.

Make difficult things look easy.

I really did like this, it`s like the KISS method. Keep it Simple and Stupid, well maybe not stupid, but so easy that everybody can do it. I did read the rest of the article/blog to Seth Godin at http://sethgodin.typepad.com/

The story goes on like this:

«Flying a plane from one city to another, on time, is incredibly difficult. There’s a million things that can go wrong. And yet, for years, the airlines worked hard to make it appear easy. They wanted to appear competent and to make us feel safe.

The other day, as I waited for a flight, I heard the dreaded announcement. The flight was delayed, there was a mechanical problem. Angst filled the gate area.

Five minutes later, they announced that the problem was fixed, and we could board… we ended up leaving ten minutes early. Joy throughout the land!

Where did the joy come from? It came from the rapid shift in expectations. For a moment, the airline made it look hard. then they did the trick and we were saved.

Houdini never said, “check out these trick handcuffs and watch how easy it is for me to take them off.»»

I`m not quite sure about the airplane like a picture of this, because you want the airplane to be riskfree. And to fix a problem in four minute is…

But maybe I´m just a little afraid boy ?

DREAM TEAM part 2

 Dream team part 2

THE DAY is here, I am ready to deliver big time. The time is pm 2.15 and pm 13.00 is the light and sound check. We decided to go for all dark in the beginning and light both in teater and scene afterwards. 

 

Countdown is near and the people is getting in the room. Tick, tack, tick, tack…

 

At pm 2.15 the light went out and I started to tell a story about my time in the millitary. A story about a team effort.

 

The story is over and the light comes on. 200 people, 160 men and 40 women, ready to here more about dream team.

 

After talking in general about team and groups, I got into the D.I.S.C from Thomas International. Talking about the different personalities we have. Then I used it to devide the audience into two groups and then into two more. A group as big as this was the first time for me and also in a teater as well. Then two persons from each group comes to the stage to built a fifth group.

 

They got two questions to work with for about 3-4 minutes.

 

«Give me a metaphore for women in the millitary»

and

«What will a dream team look like»

 

The theory was once again proved, because the different groups answer just as I thought (and D.I.S.C).

 

The D is fast, not peopleoriented and fast decisions

The I is fast, people oriented and likes to hear his own voice

The S is calm, peopleoriented and wants that everybody are having a good time

The C is calm, not peopleoriented and very formal

 

In addition to the four groups we have the fifth group. This was the «ideal» group, and they proved it. They came up with two good answers and took a vote for the best.

 

Both I and S didn`t manage to get me an answer, they just stood there and looked at eachother.

 

D came with a answer that shocked us all (except the D`s) and C had a well formulated answer. With a lot of background for the answer and for why they answer that.

 

In between all the theory and group questions I showed commercials. Funny commercials with high music and a team punch line in the end. The commercials I used was:

«Bad Idea Jeans» from JC (banned commercial)

«Bud Light» from Budweiser

«Singing and dancing Stratos cow» from Nidar Chocolate Company

 

And I also used the best jokes in the world from The University of Hertfordshire research project from 2001 (http://www.laughlab.co.uk/).

 

No. 2:

Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson go on a camping trip.  After a good dinner and a bottle of wine, they retire for the night, and go to sleep.

Some hours later, Holmes wakes up and nudges his faithful friend. “Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see.”

I see millions and millions of stars, Holmes” replies Watson.

And what do you deduce from that?

Watson ponders for a minute.  “Well, 

 

 

Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. 

 

Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is in Leo. 

 

Horologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three. 

 

Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. 

 

Theologically, I can see that God is all powerful, and that we are a small and insignificant part of the universe. 

But what does it tell you, Holmes?

Holmes is silent for a moment.  

Watson, you idiot!” he says.  “Someone has stolen our tent!” 

 

And No. 1

A couple of New Jersey hunters are out in the woods when one of them falls to the ground. He doesn’t seem to be breathing, his eyes are rolled back in his head. The other guy whips out his cell phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps to the operator: “My friend is dead! What can I do?” 

The operator, in a calm soothing voice says: “Just take it easy. I can help. First, let’s make sure he’s dead.” There is a silence, then a shot is heard. 

The guy’s voice comes back on the line. He says: “OK, now what?“ 

 

So finally in the end I connect my iPhone to the system and called up my wife.

And to hear 200 people singing the «Happy Birthday» song to my wife over the phone…

Breathtaking, and brings the tear in my eyes. I have so much to thank here for.

 

It was a great success and the feedback was that I manage to combine both funny stuff and interested stuff about the persons way of acting. Both alone and in a team. Be aware of that, use D.I.S.C and Thomas International and get DREAM TEAMS…

Why isn`t everybody having a mentor?

It strikes me, time after time. Everywhere when I talk to people and for people about mentoring. Almost everyone is responding the same way, as a big question mark in their face. I want a mentor they say, and wondering how to get one.

 
I don`t think it`s easy to get a mentor outside a mentorprogram. Even when I am saying “just pick up the phone”. Call the man or women you want and let them know why you want them especially.
 
Tell him why and how much you admire this person.
 
Who do you think will turn you down???
 
Maybe it`s just me, but when someone calls me up, telling me what a great guy I am. And how much he or she admires me, I run to him…
 
So my hope for the future is to hear moore people at my seminar and trainings telling that “of course” I have a mentor… DHAAAAAAAAAAAAA…

DREAM TEAM part 1

So many and fine places you come to as a trainer and speaker. Right now I am on my way to Ørlandet Millitary Base in Trondheim, Norway. After one hour flight to Trondheim I am now sitting on a boat (in one hour) out to the base. Actually it`s the second boat, because the first one had som kind of trouble and had to return back to the harbour after about 15 min.

So now are we 45 min. after schedule, but it`s a beautiful evening so it doesn`t matter.
 
Tomorrow I am going to talk about dream team. Haven`t heard about it, you said? Well it`s known to happen, when someone put together the team with “a trained eye”. F.ex. using Belbin or Thomas Int. D.I.S.C analyses. There are young people so I have to keep it simple and catchy.
 
To split 200 persons into four groups (D, I, S and C (Thomas Intern.) or red, yellow, green and blue (Insight)) in a teater will be fun. It would be the biggest crowd I had tried this on. But it is always a first time…
 
When I am sitting here and looking at around 50 youngsters in the boat with me, I am really starting to look forward to tomorrow. I can also se so many with a need for a mentor. It is so much potential here and I want to help them all. It`s fantastic to have a mentor in so young age. I have been a mentor for different young people over the last ten years. WOW… the fun, the excitement, the reflection and the graditude…

AIESEC Conference – Seminar “The Big Five”

 The seminar at the Aiesec conference went very well, a lot of people willing to learn how to be a mentor. At the end we talked about how this could be used for the best of Aiesec, maybe to get more members.

Some even talked about invited me to their schools to do the seminar again for all the members and maybe for some potential members to.

 

Well we have to see, and hopefully you will hear more about this. Here are some pictures.