Mentors-Mentorship building effective relationships

Carolyn Coleman-Grady
Better Web Builder
03-18-2014

Mentors: Who's effective are you? relationships

“A lot of people have gone further than they thought they could because someone else thought they could.” – Unknown

Are you the best at what you do?  Try reaching out to a mentor.  Today I wanted to speak to mentoring.     I found it beneficial to identify important qualities in one who professes to be a mentor.   Seek mentors who have a listening ear, and are willing to guide you in your learning process.  Whether it is business or training for an event. One of the key characteristic of a mentor, is listening, and effective communication. According to Entwistle (2000), “There are three main approaches to learning: deep, surface or strategic learning. 

Entwistle, describes deep learners as intrinsically motivated students, striving to understand and seek meaning from their work and studies.  Surface learners are described as being motivated by a fear of failure and a desire to simply satisfy the demands of the curriculum.  Such an approach usually results in poor understanding with minimal sense of lasting achievement or satisfaction (Kell and Owen 2009). We want to have lasting learning and understanding to perfect the challenges in building our business. Success in learning anything, comes from an effective mentor.

An effective mentor assesses the needs, builds a relationship of trust, and guides the mentee toward goals.  A mentor will assist in developing a plan of action that will move the mentee toward success.  It is important that the mentor be aware of jargon language and judgments.  Mentors answer questions, provide guidance and encouragement.  Mentors are available and willing to assist in the growth of the mentee. Patience is what builds strong relationships.

Mentors must have patience, when mentee’s become anxious and project self-criticisms, mentors should inject words that will reduce the mentee’s fears, and anxiety. This helps reduce anxiety and redirects the mentee's focus. There are lots of mentors who claim to be supportive, active and participatory in the success of the mentee.  However, this is not always true.  It is important to identify your needs.  Determine how the mentor can help. Once you have decided that a mentor is needed then begin the search by asking question/.  Mentors are valid and have existed for many years.  It is up to you to seek and find the mentor that will stretch you in areas you have not exercised before namely the ‘brain.’

Additional methods of learning include reading blogs from other business leaders, gathering ideas from other business owners that interest you. It is equally important to have an open mind, and having the ability to recognize your strengths and weaknesses. Growing pains come as knowledge increases, it takes understanding to success in anything. Mentoring works when the mentor is able to capture the learners attention. Guidance, listening ear and patience are key.

Entwistle N (2000) Approaches to studying and levels of understanding: the influences of teaching and assessment. In: Radford J. ed, The experience of learning. 2nd

edn. Scottish Academic Press, Edinburgh

Thanks for stopping by join my blog http://www.nursingaffilate.blogspot.com

Carolyn Coleman-Grady-effective relationships

Mentor-Mentoring pick a part my brain part 2

Mentoring-Pick a part my brain

Carolyn Coleman-Grady

5-18-12

Better Web Builder

Mentoring-Pick a part my brain

Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction. 
John C. Crosby 

Each of us needs a good listening ear, a push in the right direction and a brain to pick.  Don’t you agree?  Direction, many of us use some type of navigational system such as MapQuest.  This tool pulls up directions to a particular place.  When we input the information, map populates directions.  Sometimes it is right on target and others times it will lead you the wrong way.  Mentoring is similar.  A mentor pushes you to the right directs.  But, just like the navigational system, what you provide to the mentor will determine whether the right directions are given.

Giving the right directors means you know your objective, goals and strategies.  The mentor will assist you, guide and encourage you.  For example, I’m a Registered Nurse who happens to love Network Marketing.  My goal is to create opportunities for people who are looking for an Internet marketing business.  The strategies I use include advertising, blogging, videos, and quotes.  I pick the brain of my mentor quite often, but I also call just to check in.  I believe this is important.  Checking in to say hello enhances the relationship.

Mentors have a good listening ear.  Mentors are ready to assist your growth.  They are encourager's and take pleasure in watching you succeed.  In nursing mentors and preceptors differ.  Preceptors, train, demonstrate and guide your performance. 

 Preceptors ensure that a nurse is equipped to manage patient care in a particular setting.  Mentors on the other had push and guide the goals you have set up to advance.  For example, I’m interested in decreasing the readmission rate of chronically ill patients with Congestive Heart Failure.  The mentor I have for this area is an advance MSN (Masters of Science in Nursing).  She is guiding and pushing my goals, objectives and strategies.  I’m a MSN student at this time and need mentoring by an expert in the field of nursing.

On the other hand, I also have a mentor for business.  My mentor has over 20 plus years in network marketing, has a listening ear, allows me to pick her brain and advises me in the direction that I have chosen.

Mentors are expert in the field.  Like MapQuest, if the wrong information is imputed then the directions provide just might take you off course.  Strategies organization and plan before meeting your mentor are important.  Let the work will begin to your success.

Thanks for stopping by join my blog http://www.nursingaffilate.blogspot.com

Carolyn Coleman-Grady-Willing to listen and grow