The blogger’s nightmare is when his muse is instructing him to be creative in a serious and positive sense, but something keeps whispering to his brain that there is something really funny about all this. It was a tough job, but Monday through Friday was published with a certain amount of decorum. Today it is time to play with the words a bit. Technically, Mentor and Minotaur are heterographs different in spelling and meaning, but similar sounding. That similarity has been haunting… daring to be let loose! Seldom does an opportunity arise to also talk about two heterographs in the same series of articles, but Mentees and Manatees do work that way too. Note that there will be no connection with being Mental or Minty because that would be taking it too far. There will also be no apologies for weak humor and childish silliness. It’s a dirty job but somebody has to do it!
Image credits
- Minotaur via Monster Wikia
- Manatee via Manatee.net
Jan 28 - Mentoring – Probably Not What You Think It Is – As is true with a number of words thrown around in HR-speak, the word “mentor†has any number of connotations depending on the frame of reference. It is also one of those words that can be a noun when it refers to the person doing it and a verb when it describes what the person is doing. To get down to the basic definition before going to other meanings, the word was originally age and gender specific. – more –
Jan 29 - Part I – The Art of Mentoring – There are several misconceptions that must be set aside before there can be any analysis of an effective mentor. A mentor is not a friend. In fact, true friendship is much too tolerant for effective mentoring. Mentorship based on a personal relationship alone will not allow either party to openly participate to their mutual benefit. This is also not the buddy system. – more –
Jan 30 - Part II – The Art of Being a Mentee - In addition to the duties of a mentor, the protégé, disciple, apprentice or student being instructed has responsibilities to make mentoring systems work. It may seem to most people as a top-down arrangement at first glance, but one thing is true in all mentorship programs: The mentee is responsible for making the system work. – more –
Jan 31 – Part III – Formal Mentoring Programs – There is a similarity between all mentoring programs whether they are in academia, non-profit, service organizations or industry. It all begins with a cadre of individuals that have the know-how and patience to serve as a mentor and willing participants that understand that they don’t know it all and have a lust for knowledge. – more –
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Feb 1 - Part IV – Informal Mentoring - Not all companies have formal programs to start a new employee on the right track. Many long term employees entering new jobs may not be afforded a formal program to bring them up to speed. It is necessary in some cases for mentors to self appoint themselves to fill a training gap. It is also important for all of us who need assistance to seek out and appoint our own mentors. – more –