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Effective Workplace Mentoring and Coaching Techniques
Today's episode discusses the importance of mentoring and coaching in the workplace, emphasizing holistic development over just skill enhancement. It also highlights the effective "Zen coaching" approach and the historical significance of mentoring.
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Hey there, folks! Welcome back to another episode. I'm your host, Sam, and today's topic is something very close to my heart: Mentoring and Coaching Techniques in the Workplace.
You know, the workplace should not just be about getting work done. It should also be a place for growth, learning, and development. As Benjamin Franklin once said, "Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn." That's what mentoring and coaching essentially do - they involve us and help us learn.
In fact, an interesting study by Deloitte showed that millennials intending to stay with their organization for more than five years are twice as likely to have a mentor (68%) than not (32%). This clearly emphasizes the importance of mentoring in retaining employees.
Now let's delve into some techniques that can make workplace mentoring more effective. An approach that has garnered much praise comes from the legendary basketball coach Phil Jackson who led Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers to numerous championships. His style was famously called "Zen coaching," which involved mindfulness practices like meditation alongside regular practice sessions.
Jackson didn't just focus on improving his players' skills but also their mental outlook. In his own words, "Approach the game with no preset agendas and you'll probably come away surprised at your overall efforts." This is a great mantra for mentors in workplaces too - focus on holistic development rather than just skill enhancement.
To put this into perspective let’s take a historical anecdote. During World War II Bletchley Park in England was where the Enigma code was broken; it wasn’t done through hierarchical command but through collaboration where young novices worked side by side with experienced professionals learning from them directly – a perfect example of effective mentoring.
Let me leave you with one actionable insight today: As mentors or coaches in our workplace, let's adopt Phil Jackson’s Zen approach - Focus on developing people, not just their skills. Encourage them to be mindful of their actions and decisions, and teach them the value of perseverance.
Before we wrap up, here's a random fact for you. Did you know that Socrates was one of the first recorded mentors? He taught Plato who in turn taught Aristotle who then taught Alexander the Great. Now that’s what I call a powerful mentorship lineage!
If today's chat resonated with you, I'd love it if you could share this podcast with your friends and colleagues. Let's create workplaces where growth and learning are as important as getting work done. Until next time, stay curious, keep learning!