Leaders developing leaders.

Inspiration

The Mentor/Mentee Partnership

Mentors guide, motivate, inspire and support – enabling the mentee to achieve their life’s goals and aspirations.—Mentor City

How do you define the role of mentor? We define it as “someone who imparts wisdom and shares knowledge with a less experienced person” and perhaps someone with “less exposure” than that of the mentor.

Part of the mentor’s role is to provide:
-Meaningful and frequent feedback
-Explore strengths and needs and create and update a development plan
-Networking opportunities are identified and leveraged
-Trusting relationships are built and nurtured
-Ongoing open lines of communication
-Realistic expectations for attaining goals and results

Mentoring may be formal or informal, but the expectations and roles should be defined and agreed to at the inception of the relationship.

1. What’s the purpose of the mentorship?
2. What type of expertise/guidance is the mentee seeking?

Note: In general, mentors/mentees do not have a reporting relationship allowing for candid discussions.

Here are some tips for the mentee:

Be receptive to coaching and suggestions made by your mentor

Focus on expectations; it’s up to you to share your desired goals (short and long term), what you view as your “dream job”, and your vision for your career path.   

Stay current on required work skills. What talent would look good on your resume? Would any certifications or other position you to stand out from the competition?

Discuss your successes and accomplishments as well as your barriers and problem areas

Solicit feedback; what could you do better?  What’s working well and what is not?

Are you willing to share your wisdom and experiences with others to help them grow?  If yes, become a mentor!

A mentor can be a role model, coach, sounding board, voice of reason, emotional support, counselor, and a trusted resource.—Mentor City

Inspire vs Motivate

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.—John Quincy Adams

Do you view the words “inspire” and “motivate” to mean the same thing? Marissa Levin, Founder and CEO, Successful Culture feels they are very different and provides the following differentiators:

  • “Inspire” translates to “in spirit.” Inspiration comes from within.
  • The root word of “Motivate” is “motive,” which is an external force that causes us to take action
  • Motivation pushes you to accomplish a task, or work through a difficult event, even when you would rather be doing anything else. We are motivated by a result.
  • Inspiration pulls you towards something that stirs your heart, mind, or spirit. We are inspired by a person, an event, or a circumstance.

How do you feel about these definitions? We think it makes sense that if your heart, mind, or spirit are “stirred”, a person will indeed be inspired and more engaged, and per a study by Bain Research, they will also be twice as productive. This links to our “Magic Dust”™ theory; when a person is in the position to do what they enjoy, and feel they add value, they thrive and results grow.

So as a leader, how can we increase inspiration levels? Surveys state:

  • Set stretch goals with your team
  • Commit to developing direct reports
  • Engage in collaborative behavior
  • Build emotional connections with team members and others you interact with
  • Establish, share, and continually talk about how your vision (or your organization’s vision) can be supported
  • Communicate clearly and often
  • Explain and manage change

It’s up to us as leaders to model these behaviors and recognize others when they display them. How are you helping others dream more, learn more, do more, and become more?

Leaders can be found at all levels of the company and it is through their efficacy, influence and ability to inspire that our company is reinventing itself.–IBM

The Happy Factor

We believe we should work hard in order to be happy, but could we be thinking about things backwards?
—Shawn Achor

Have you ever worked for someone that made you enjoy being around them? That you felt uplifted, happy, and inspired, and that you wanted to help them achieve desired results?  Better yet, that YOU are that type of leader?

Psychologist Shawn Achor’s TedTalk shares that “happiness inspires us to be more productive”. Some leaders have a special gift (aka “Magic Dust”) that authentically influences the workplace happy factor.

Achor’s studies found that it’s not necessarily the reality that shapes us, but rather the lens through which our brains view the world that shapes our reality.

His studies provided some interesting data:
90 percent of our long-term happiness is predicted not by the external world, but by the way our brain processes the world

25% of job successes are predicted by IQ, and 75 percent of job successes are predicted by optimism levels.

He also shares that our brains can be re-wired to become more positive and provides the following five tips for creating lasting and positive change:

  1. Write down three new things that you’re grateful for 21 days in a row (each day must have 3 new items)
  2. Journal your positive experience
  3. Exercise
  4. Meditate
  5. Conduct random acts of kindness

Is an element of your magic dust the happy factor? How do you impact the happy factor of others?

Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of a good conscience, good health, occupation, and freedom in all just pursuits.—Thomas Jefferson

The next leadership tip will include the Johari Window. This is very helpful for expanding on your Magic Dust. Your known and unknown gifts help you to become the very best leader.

BAM! You’re A Leader

Courage is the main quality of leadership, in my opinion, no matter where it is exercised.—Walt Disney

Many of us were promoted into leadership positions because we were great at what we did. We excelled in our role, we executed tasks with precision, and we met or exceeded goals and deliverables.

All of a sudden “BAM”; you’ve become a leader with direct reports and are not sure what all is involved. It doesn’t matter that you’re unclear on what’s required in your new role, or that your “people” skills needed to be developed, refined and/or refreshed.  Sound familiar?

Some of us have had the opportunity to have a mentor and be afforded career development opportunities.  Some of us have not had a smooth transition into our new leadership role, and quite honestly have difficulty moving forward.

The good news is that we can help ourselves by learning new tools, and acquiring techniques and methods that are considered to be essential for leadership effectiveness. This can be humbling, and it takes courage for successful professionals and technicians to admit they have gaps to fill.

A good starting point is to increase awareness levels; what’s working well, what is not, what skill-sets need to be updated, and are customer/client needs being met?

We have a complimentary self-assessment that we think you’ll find helpful. You (confidentially) rate yourself in the areas of Awareness, Magic Dust, VMGM = B, Communication, Clarity, Accountability, Conflict, Influence, Relationships, Feedback, Inspiration, and Continual Learning. To request the assessment click here.

After scoring yourself on a ten-point scale (from poor to superb), you will document your strengths and target development areas, and provide names for those you feel can provide you with developmental assistance. It will conclude with you determining “next steps” and timings.

Leadership development requires courage and commitment – and, it’s a process not an event. (We know; you’ve heard this before. Numerous times!)

Why not utilize this leadership roadmap to update your development plan? Take your first step towards courageous leadership today!

LEADERSHIP IS ONLY COURAGE AND WISDOM, AND A GREAT CAREFULNESS OF SELF.
—John Buchan

Do You Have A Need To Win?

I would submit effectively dealing with conflict is one of the most valuable skills a leader can possess.—Mike Myatt

Last week we talked about how many leaders struggle with addressing conflict, and as a result the conflict is sometimes avoided. We also shared that there is a time and place to be an “avoider”, but when used inappropriately, avoiders may be viewed as weak and unassertive.

Now we’re switching gears. Do you have a need to win? Are you uncooperative and assertive? Are you power oriented? If yes, you’ll likely score high in the “compete” style.  This style may not serve you well. You may win, but it also means someone loses; not an ideal work relationship!

For those familiar with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI), the types most aligned with the competitive style are types ESTJ (extroverted-sensing-thinking-judging) and ENTJ (extroverted-intuitive-thinking-judging).

These types prefer facts and data, and may not be as concerned about the feelings and impact their style may have on others. Just something to be aware of!

All styles have a time and place and the compete mode is no different. It can be effective when:

  • You’ve considered all styles and competing is truly the most effective
  • Quick, decisive actions are vital (ex. emergencies)
  • When unpopular actions are mandated/non-negotiable (ex. cost cutting, audit points, rule enforcement)
  • When a stand must be taken and there is not time for collaboration
  • Defending something you know is correct
  • When one’s position is being challenged/insubordination occurs

We suggest using this style on a limited basis as the consequences may include:

  • Feelings of intimidation which may shut down lines of communication
  • Strained relationships
  • Resentment and retaliation
  • A lack of commitment
  • A lack of caring

When there is a need to use the “compete” mode, pay special attention to your tone and body language. There’s no need to make the situation even more confrontational than it already is.

As we’ve stated before, conflict in the workplace is unavoidable; what’s key is to prevent the conflict from escalating into an unhealthy situation.  Productivity, communication, collaboration, inspiration, morale, and growth will all suffer if not properly managed.

The “compete” mode has a time place, just use it sparingly!

THIS WEEK’S QWIKTIP!

QWIKTIPS – click to read about ACTIONS and BELIEFS