Mentoring - what's it all about?

says Jay from Ecademy

I got interested in the subject of Mentoring and came across a good article by Rita Fiore in a Coachville newsletter.

"What is it about mentoring that's distinct from coaching? How does mentoring impact people in their lives? How is mentoring different from coaching? Why have separate programs for Mentoring?

If all we had to do was read a book or listen to a tape or attend a class, on how to be better in any area - become any of the following: richer, thinner, smarter, etc we all would be richer, thinner, smarter by now. There's one particle missing -

- a mentor - someone who is committed to my growth & development, someone who has walked the path before me in the area I am committed to succeed in. Applying that learned knowledge is hard to do on your own. Most of us don't succeed alone. That's where coaching and mentoring come in - you're not alone.

If you think back over your life, I bet you will soon realize that some of the most impactful times in your life were when you had a mentor guiding you. For me a mentor is someone who has successfully navigated the rough spots, and was willing and able to clear the way for my passage. The times I spent with my mentors have left a lasting impression on me and my actions in my life - both personally and professionally. The lessons were well learned and have never left me. Most of these lessons, I have passed on to others.

A mentor is different from a coach. Not all coaches are mentors. I can and have coached surgeons, bankers, CEO's. I've never been any of those, and I wouldn't be a mentor to them - a coach yes, mentor no.

When we begin as a coach we usually coach someone in things we are familiar with. As we grow as coaches, we realize we can coach anyone. Most senior coaches can and do coach anyone - bankers, doctors, wives, singers - anyone. We know what we are coaching is the person not the profession or skill set needed for that profession.

A mentor is someone who has accomplished something in a focused area - who's already been there and is able to pass along what is needed so the path is shorter and you can navigate the hazards together. Just as important, there's someone there to celebrate your successes with you.

A mentor has knowledge, expertise, and experience in a particular arena and is willing and able to pass all of that on to others. In most of the trade's and crafts, people have apprentices to learn their trade or craft directly from the masters of that trade. Doctors and lawyers have intern programs to facilitate learning their practices and skills.

Some of us need a navigator, guide or director with expertise - we want speed, velocity, certainty on our path and how the need is fulfilled is with a mentor - someone who has walked the talk. Someone who is willing and able to guide, inspire, coach, push, acknowledge and share with. That's a mentor.

Rita Fiore
Mentor Program Director
Rita@coachville.com
From the Coachville.com newsletter.

Jay
Mastery in Servitude
www.parkhe.net
http://team100program.blogspot.com
My Team 100 on Ecademy

Comments

[Jules dalsey]

hey men i also have a typepad how can i have your blog be link or posted on my so i can have my readers read your blogs.

[Nyasha]

I am getting to grips with blogging and mentoring continues to be a passion of mine.
The question I have been thinking of late is can virtual mentoring be helpful, if you can do get to contact your super mentor. There is I suppose the internal mentor as well as external mentor within us. So next time you are on your lonely entreprise journey think of all virtual mentors out there for you.