Mentoring programs nationwide prove to be very beneficial to talented employees and their managers. As a result, millions of dollars are invested in companies’ bottom lines. Research documents mentoring provides pivotal developmental relationships that serve as the foundation for organizational improvement. However, with these successes, obstacles/stumbling blocks exist that can keep organizations from achieving these […]
What do you see when you picture a mentoring program? Chances are you envision a face-to-face meeting between a more experienced employee (the mentor) and a person who requires guidance and wishes to gain expertise (the mentee.) This is a traditional mentoring approach. While many formal mentoring programs like these exist, it is important to note […]
If you are a mentor, you will find that having efficient conversations with your mentees is an integral part to leading them to success in their careers. In this article, I have compiled a list of good conversation starters mentors should use when speaking with their mentees. What are your short and long-term goals? This […]
There are a lot of struggles, barriers, and challenges that come with starting a mentoring program. Not knowing how to overcome these challenges can be detrimental to the success of your mentoring program, and can sometimes result in colossal failure. Luckily, there are steps you can take to avoid pitfalls with your mentoring program. The […]
Guest post by Nikki Lewallen, Rainmakers. As a business leader, I reflect regularly, but I seem to do it much more so since Thanksgiving is top of mind. When I think about it I cultivated a habit of reflection by celebrating the wins, appreciating the failures and preparing mentally for the next day. Mentors taught me […]
Jan Belcher had a 25+ year career in public service, successfully serving as Assistant City Manager and City Manager for several cities in Texas. While this career path had many rewards, it also meant managing in difficult and sometimes contentious times. When she made the decision to try a different career direction, one in which […]
When I was 16 years old, my father, who had a 9th grade education, asked me what I wanted to do with my life. I responded that I wanted to be a tap dancer on Broadway (quite an aspiration for a young girl from Waco, TX.) Rather than offer what would have been more “logical […]
Endorsement. Promotion. Alignment. These are all words that you embody when you partner with another organization professionally and personally. In my work in the grant writing field, I see partnerships between one company and one foundation work beautifully all the time-that is, unless they don’t. For example, if you are seeking grant funding this winter, […]
You never know when a piece of wisdom or advice can change your life. I was having lunch with a business associate and commiserating a bit about my daughter, who was 10 at the time. We had seemingly entered an era I had been hoping to avoid, yet one I was all too familiar with. […]
I started out this article as a blog, beware…what I ended up with is a manifesto. You surely read it or heard about it last year-you know, the book Lean In , Women, Work and the Will to Lead, authored by the reigning Chief Operating Officer at Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg, an accomplished executive with mounting […]