Starting Strong

A Mentoring Fable

Lois J. Zachary, Lory A. Fischler

• Publisher: Jossey-Bass
• Year: 2014
• Print ISBN: 9781118767719
• eBook ISBN: 9781118768051
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Business
• Subtopic: Mentoring & Coaching
• Index: Business

A hands-on and usable guide to making the first 90 days of your mentoring relationship a success

In Starting Strong, mentoring experts Lois J. Zachary and Lory A. Fischler weave a compelling tale that exemplifies the concepts, highlights the dynamics, and outlines the issues involved in mentoring relationships. The authors use the form of a fable to tell the story of a budding mentoring relationship filled with possibilities, problems, and triumphs. The story of Cynthia, a seasoned professional, and her new mentee Rafa, brings to life Zachary and Fischler's wealth of mentoring suggestions and best practices and each episode of the fable is accompanied by reflection questions, key learnings, and strategies that readers can apply to their own mentoring relationships. The authors include a conversation playbook that guides mentors and mentees through six essential conversations that will help them establish a strong mentoring connection, and keep it moving forward.

As organizations face the transition of departing Boomers and arriving Millennials, Starting Strong offers a hands-on and readable guide to create effective mentoring relationships that will ensure the success of that transition. The book:

• Covers the key components of a successful mentoring relationship including building trust, establishing a comfort zone (and then having the courage to leave it), holding productive meetings, dealing with power dynamics, setting goals, and keeping momentum going
• Shows how to avoid common pitfalls and overcome mentoring obstacles
• Applies to any organizational or institutional setting

Starting Strong is more than an engaging story of mentorship, it's a vital resource for understanding how to implement and sustain a meaningful mentoring relationship.

Part One
The Fable

The Week Before: Questions Before We Start

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From: Cynthia Colton <[email protected]>

Subject: Introducing myself

To: Rafa Moretti <[email protected]>

Rafa,

Diane Foster’s email announcing our mentoring match just arrived. I am looking forward to meeting you in person. In the meantime, I thought it might be helpful if I provided a little background information in addition to what you’ve probably already seen on the website. My purpose is to help you understand why I am so committed to mentoring

I’m a Chicago native, and I attended Northwestern as an undergraduate majoring in journalism. I worked as an intern at the Trib and then got hired on right after graduation. I was in love with the idea of being an ace reporter, and sure that it was the only career for me. Well, it took a couple of years of floundering—it was hard to let go of my dream. Finally, I realized that this was NOT my ideal job. I needed to be in a position where I could create the action and not just report on it. For a while, I was at a loss about what to do next.

People always say that for every door that closes, one opens, and that’s exactly what happened to me. I was introduced to Frank Tibbitz by a good friend, and we hit it off. Frank helped me realize how much I needed to understand what was really motivating me. At that time, he was a VP of Marketing & Communications. It was an area that interested me but which I didn’t know much about. I owe him a big debt of gratitude for pointing me in the right direction and helping me stay on track. Frank has been one of my mentors ever since.

I made two big decisions right away: I went back to school in communications, and I took a job as a marketing research analyst. I moved on to become an internal communications manager and then a marketing communications coordinator at Carmel in Boston. Twelve years ago I moved to New York City and took a position as Global Communications Manager for BeST, where I spent more time in the air than on the ground. It was exciting, but the cold weather finally got to me. So here I am at CTBN in Phoenix, holding a position with the same job title as Frank—VP of Marketing and Communications. Who knew!

Frank wasn’t my first mentor, and he certainly wasn’t my last. At first, mentors were assigned to me as part of my leadership training. And then I searched for my own mentors. Each raised the bar for me, challenged my thinking, and supported my development. Even though I have moved on, I still hear their voices resonating in my head when I walk into a meeting or find myself in a difficult situation. All of them have contributed to my growth and professional development as a leader. I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.

You can see that I truly believe in the power of mentoring! I make it a priority to mentor others, no matter how much work I have on my plate. I believe it is part of my responsibility as a leader. The best part is that I continue to learn from each and every one of my mentees. It’s a real two-way relationship.

Rafa, I am looking forward to learning more about you. I have prepared some questions to speed the process along and help me get to know you a little better before our first meeting.

1. How did you get to CTBN?
2. What are your career aspirations?
3. What do you see as your strengths and challenges?
4. How do you let off steam?
5. Why did you choose me as your mentor?
6. What would you like me to know about you?

If you can respond in the next couple of days, it will help us make the most of our time together. Thanks. I am looking forward to connecting in real time on Friday.

Best regards,

Cynthia

Cynthia Colton, MBA

www.ctbn.biz

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From: Rafa Moretti <[email protected]>

Subject: Re: Introducing myself

To: Cynthia Colton <[email protected]>

Hi Cynthia!

Thanks for your note. I’m really excited about this. We already have some things in common. You spent some time in the city I was raised in—Boston—and I also had a bit of a career jolt.

I spent every single day since I was eight years old working towards a career as a professional baseball player. I was actually a pretty good shortstop, which led to a free ride to Milton Academy during high school (that would never have been in the cards for a kid like me from the North End). I batted .395 for four years. I am pretty proud that they retired my number when I graduated. My parents didn’t care about my batting average, though; they only cared about my grade point average. As long as I made Headmaster’s List, they were OK. Thank goodness I did.

Remember the movie “Blind Side”? At the end of movie all the college coaches came knocking at this talented high school football star’s door to recruit him. That was me—only smarter and a baseball player. I was heavily recruited by colleges all across the country but chose Boston College. It made for an easier move and my parents were pushing the Jesuits. I was totally focused on getting drafted and playing in the majors. No other goal was remotely possible.

So, kind of like you, the door slammed in my face. In my junior year a runner slid into second base during a double play. I held the ball and got the out, but his cleats ruptured my Achilles tendon. Unfortunately, I returned too quickly to practice and reinjured it, and was told it was never going to be right. It hurt like hell both times, but not nearly as badly as the loss of my dream. That was almost 6 years ago.

You asked me to respond to your 6 questions. So here goes.

How did I get to CTBN?

Every summer for most of my life I was in some kind of baseball program. But the summer of my junior year, bored out of my mind and hobbling on crutches, I needed to do something else. Then a door opened that I never expected. One of the booster club members, a senior VP at McCowen’s, got me an internship working in supply chain management. I was surprised how much I liked being in a business that had nothing to do with swinging a bat. I actually enjoyed analyzing numbers on a page and deciphering them so they made sense to other people. It was hard to let go of a lifelong dream, but maybe my discipline from sports helped—I put the same energy I used to put into training to set a new career direction. Anyway, I graduated BC with a business degree and I took a job with CD Worth as a financial analyst.

About two years ago, a former teammate (Jack Fallon, he works in sales) called to tell me about a job opening here. It was for more money, which didn’t hurt. Plus, the draw of watching pro ball teams do spring training in the Cactus League in Phoenix was very appealing. I had never participated in any formal leadership training, so I was psyched when I heard about the CTBN NextGen Leadership Program.

What are my career aspirations?

I always try to do things to the best of my ability. I have no tolerance for mediocrity in my team or myself. I learned that from baseball. I’ve never been afraid of hard work. I do what it takes to win, and I expect others to do the same. So down the road, I am hoping that my skills and talent will be recognized by senior leadership. I want a place in this organization where I can advance and make an impact!!

What are my strengths and challenges?

My strengths—I take on a leadership role in whatever I do. On the baseball field or wherever, I push for best effort from everyone. I am not afraid of a challenge, and not afraid to fight for an issue I believe in. I go for results and cut through the BS. I can put in a long day and get a lot done. And I can still hit a fastball deep into center field.

My challenges—Like everyone, I have my challenges. I struggle with people who sit around and complain about a problem rather than work on the solution. I get frustrated with people who aren’t getting the results they need, but won’t ask for help or try a new approach. I also get frustrated when leaders keep doing the same thing, using old systems and technology. It keeps us from being efficient and competitive, even though they don’t seem to care. It sets us up for losing and that is really intolerable for me.

How do I let off steam?

I still play a little ball on Saturdays in a men’s league—nothing serious. Can’t completely let go of baseball.

I also work out regularly, and I am in the gym, pumping iron.

Why did I choose you?

When I was asked to submit three names of potential mentors, your name came to mind immediately. I watched you present at the Ops meeting last spring and I was very impressed. You have made a big mark on CTBN, and everyone respects you. You reminded me of what it felt like to be up at the plate, bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, with everything on the line. The crowd expects big things from you, and you deliver a walk-off run. I am hoping to be in a job someday where I can have the same power and influence that you do.

What would I like you to know about me?

I am not sure there is more to tell, but I will summarize by saying I am hard working, interested in learning and getting ahead. I want to be able to make a contribution to any organization I am with, and I hope that organization wants me to make a difference too.

Meeting with you is a great start. I look forward to Friday.

Regards,

Rafa

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Digging Deeper

Questions for Mentors:

1. Cynthia sent an email to Rafa to introduce herself. What is the value of sending an introductory letter or email in advance of meeting? Is there a downside?
2. What did you like about Cynthia’s email? Is there anything you didn’t like in Cynthia’s letter?
3. What information would you include in your own letter?
4. Did Cynthia share more, less, or about the same amount of personal information that you might share with your mentee?
5. Cynthia included six questions at the end of her email to Rafa. What is the advantage of including specific questions?
6. What questions might you want to ask your mentee?

Questions for Mentees:

1. Cynthia sent an email to her mentee to introduce herself. What is the value in receiving an introductory letter or email in advance of meeting? Do you see any d...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Contents
• Title
• Copyright
• Foreword
• Introduction
• Part One: The Fable
• Part Two: The Mentoring Conversation Playbook
• Afterword: Starting Strong, Moving Forward
• Suggested Reading
• Acknowledgments
• About the Authors
• Index
• Advertisements
• End User License Agreement