Many small and medium sized firms miss out on the tailored development packages offered by business schools and are put off by the ’ten steps to heaven solutions’ offered by training companies. They can often gain better value by using executive mentoring
This is a specialist service we are able to offer which focuses on the development and coaching of key staff. This reflects the current trend towards individuals taking more responsibility for their own development and not relying on the expert to take care of them.
We are able to use our experience to try and fit the right kind of approach with the appropriate mentee.. Senior managers may typically be fairly direct at problem solving, go alone into their cave to think through the problem and if they cannot resolve it, ask someone they respect, hoping to be given a solution.
Teamworkers, on the other hand, like to gather round the well and talk it over with others with much empathising until they solve their own problem or decide they can live with it.
If we think of this at home, the Shaper complains about work and expects to be offered a solution, the team worker proceeds to empathise, frustrating the former who feels that this is making things worse. If it is the team worker who complains about work, they want the Shaper to sympathise but they simply point out a good solution which would be to leave that job if its that bad. In either case the complainer feels totally misunderstood.
A Shaper mentor will expect to identify options based on previous experience and may miss other possibilities. The Teamworker mentor will create a counselling format where the mentee feels genuinely listened to and valued and may never get around to any action.
Much traditional mentoring operates on the premise that mentors will be previously successful managers and that the mentor advises the mentee on what to do to succeed within the organisation.
Developmental mentoring approaches are based upon matching the mentee to the mentor who can then listen and reflect while the former comes to their own conclusions about their future development.
Many organisations that seek culture change unwittingly maintain the old culture through a traditional style of mentoring. Our system can be adapted to get the best from your staff. Also available are up to date videos and learning based projects specifically designed for individuals at no extra charge
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