Write a blog entry on the significance, importance, and/or impact of having a coach and/or a mentor to help you in your professional journey.
The demands placed on individuals from all walks of life in today’s global economy, plus the need to have effective and consistent and positive interaction is an ever-increasing complex and human endeavor. Today’s workforce needs the confidence, self-esteem and determination, if they are going to succeed in business or government.
In the 1980’s as a young and still wet behind the ears Airman in the USAF, I was subjected to a multitude of new ideas and at the time appealing interests. It was an old and retired A.F. NCO who was at the time a civilian employee, took me under his wing and showed me the ropes of being an effective aircraft mechanic. The first and most lasting lesson was “treat and maintain an aircraft, like your family was going to fly on it.” I never have forgotten those words, and through the years, I still employ it in my profession and those appointed above me and below me.
The importance of having a mentor is vastly important and can leave a lasting impression upon you like the above mentioned description. As you grow older and the demands that are placed upon you become greater and greater, the lines can often get blurry and the waters muddied between what may be ethical and prudent to what can be outright illegal or improper. The use of an impromptu mentor or someone who has been there and understands the true costs of poorly made decisions even with the best of intentions, can spell the difference between a successful career and possible jail time. The latter sentence although maybe a bit exaggerated, does hold some merit as to the consequences of one’s actions is a world and society slowly corrupting itself and willing to bring with-it as many causalities as possible. It should serve as a sobering reality check of what can happen if one were to let ones guard down.
A mentor can also be a good source of inspiration to an individual in a perspective career move and educational pursuits. As an example, I recently accomplished a graduate degree change from Project Management to Leadership. I was not happy or satisfied with the degree work and where it was going, so, I enlisted the advice of the ERAU Academic Advisor as to where my career goals are and where I want to be in 3-5 years. She assisted me with the degree change and I am now on the road to a more personally and professionally rewarding degree work.
I my former A.F. life, mentors may not have been as friendly or as agreeable as I would have hoped, however, much like your parents may have been tough on you as a method of instilling you and get you prepared for life’s challenges and setbacks. These mentors afforded me the same type of mentoring… even as an adult we all need a preverbal kick in the pants on occasion. Looking back, these individuals were probably my best and closest friends and allies I could have ever wanted, and I believe them partially or directly responsible for pushing me to realize my personnel, professional and educational goals.
No comments:
Post a Comment