Comments on: Mentors Are Everywhere http://www.baileyworkplay.com/2007/03/mentors-are-everywhere/ Customers, Marketing, Work, and Thoughts on a Creative Life Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:29:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Chris Bailey http://www.baileyworkplay.com/2007/03/mentors-are-everywhere/comment-page-1/#comment-491 Chris Bailey Sat, 09 Jun 2007 14:05:05 +0000 http://baileyworkplay.com/2007/03/01/mentors-are-everywhere/#comment-491 Hi Lisa, no apologies necessary. It's tough to keep up with all the blog stuff that's out here. Glad we connected back to this theme. One key is empathy and the degree to which a managerial candidate has this trait will likely determine their success. If you're a selfish jackass, you probably won't fare too well. Yep, it's possible to change, but empathy is an inborn characteristic that's rather difficult to pick up along the way (and forget finding a professional development training session for it). Hi Lisa, no apologies necessary. It’s tough to keep up with all the blog stuff that’s out here. Glad we connected back to this theme. One key is empathy and the degree to which a managerial candidate has this trait will likely determine their success. If you’re a selfish jackass, you probably won’t fare too well. Yep, it’s possible to change, but empathy is an inborn characteristic that’s rather difficult to pick up along the way (and forget finding a professional development training session for it).

]]> By: Lisa Junker http://www.baileyworkplay.com/2007/03/mentors-are-everywhere/comment-page-1/#comment-492 Lisa Junker Fri, 08 Jun 2007 22:16:24 +0000 http://baileyworkplay.com/2007/03/01/mentors-are-everywhere/#comment-492 I completely missed this post when you originally put it up, Chris--I really apologize. Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback about anti-mentors, and what it means to think about them. I especially like your comments here: "as employees, we are capable of being grateful for the examples of lousy management. Within that, there’s a certain release that from being in a less-than-optimal professional relationship. And we also gain a greater sense of control when we can acknowledge our own learning in these situations." I think this is absolutely true. And I'm also grateful for the additional push these examples give me. There are always times when you want to give in to your lesser impulses--you're tired, you're stressed. But having anti-mentor examples in my past gives me a little additional strength to call on in situations like that. I remember how I felt when someone snapped at me or treated me poorly; it gives me additional motivation to never make someone else feel that way. This of course doesn't mean that I have a perfect track record either--but when I realize that I've messed up, you can bet I apologize and try to make amends if I can. I completely missed this post when you originally put it up, Chris–I really apologize. Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback about anti-mentors, and what it means to think about them.

I especially like your comments here: “as employees, we are capable of being grateful for the examples of lousy management. Within that, there’s a certain release that from being in a less-than-optimal professional relationship. And we also gain a greater sense of control when we can acknowledge our own learning in these situations.”

I think this is absolutely true. And I’m also grateful for the additional push these examples give me. There are always times when you want to give in to your lesser impulses–you’re tired, you’re stressed. But having anti-mentor examples in my past gives me a little additional strength to call on in situations like that. I remember how I felt when someone snapped at me or treated me poorly; it gives me additional motivation to never make someone else feel that way. This of course doesn’t mean that I have a perfect track record either–but when I realize that I’ve messed up, you can bet I apologize and try to make amends if I can.

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