MRivera BAM441 Final Course Paper

7/27/2019 MRivera BAM441 Final Course Paper

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Final Assignment1

How to Choose a Mentor and MenteeManuel Rivera

BAM44110/6/2012


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Final Assignment2

Assignment #2

A mentor is a wise and trusted counselor, teacher, colleague, or friend who gives

influential support to you. To choose a proper mentor, you must understand why it is

you are seeking a mentor in the first place. You many ask, How do people find mentors

anyway? Is it as simple as just asking? Well, pretty much. You choose someone you

think would be a good mentor and then ask, "Would you consider a mentoring

relationship with me?"

According to Karen Burns, 2010, here are some helpful hints to choosing a

mentor:

1. Be clear on why you want a mentor. Are you looking for someone to offer

specific advice? Do you want a conduit to your industrys movers and shakers? Or do

you just need a sounding board?

2. Define your personality and communication style. What kind of mentor would

best complement you? You may choose someone whos your opposite (an extrovert to

your introvert, for example), or someone in whom you see yourself (and vice versa).

3. When asking someone to be your mentor, explain why youre asking and what

youd expect out of the relationship. Name your reasons for approaching this particular

person. Dont be afraid to be flattering (e.g. Im asking you because you are the most

successful person I know).

4. A mentor is a powerful role model. Look for someone who has the kind of life

and work youd like to have. Also, choose a mentor you truly respect. Dont just go for

the biggest name you can find.


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Final Assignment3

Some thing to consider before asking someone to be your mentor is first simply

asking for input on a single specific topic. Then ask yourself, How did that go? Was it

good advice? Was it delivered in a way that made sense to you, and filled you with

confidence and energy? If the answers the person gave you are sound and are aligned

with your own values and ethics, you may have found yourself a mentor.

Rigorous self-assessment should precede your search for a mentor. You should

understand your values, passions and motivation before asking someone to invest in

you.

You need to consider your strengths, weaknesses and management style to

know what types of mentors will be useful. Are you looking for someone with functional

or industry expertise to help with an immediate business issue? Or would you benefit

from an outsiders perspective? Short- or long-term relationships? Group mentoring or

one-on-one interaction? Answering these questions will help narrow your search.

(Ryckman, 2010)

To get the most out of a good mentor, you must be a good mentee. You should

look for ways you can reciprocate the help your mentor offers. At the very least, you can

occasionally spring for lunch or, say, send a fruit basket. You dont want to be all take-

take-take.

Show gratitude. Never let your mentor feel taken for granted! Also, supply

feedback. If your mentor suggested something that really worked out for you, report

back. People love hearing about their part in a success story. When looking for a

mentor, think beyond former bosses and professors. Look to older family members or

friends, neighbors, spiritual leaders, community leaders, the networks of your friends


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Final Assignment4

and colleagues, or officials of professional or trade associations you belong to. Avoid

asking your direct supervisor at work. You want to be free to discuss workplace issues

as well as your plans for future advancement (Ficke, Krueger, Steiner, 2010).

Keep in mind that mentoring can take many forms. It can be lunch once a

week/month, a weekly phone call if you and your mentor are very busy or do not live

within the same city/state, or it could be a steady email correspondence.

There are some cautions you must be aware of when building a relationship with

your mentor. There are many mentors who enjoy molding someone in their own

image. This may be great for you if you want to be molded. But beware of mentors who

are too controlling, judgmental, do not listen to you, or give validation to your point of

views. Remember, this is your path, not theirs; continue to think for yourself.

Finally, remember that people do not mentor just to be nice. Mentoring can take

considerable time and effort. Though they may enjoy the intrinsic rewards of mentoring

and be willing to help you out, they will be more inclined to continue the relationship if

they are also gaining something from it (Price, 2012). Ask them what you can do to help

them out. What is really important is showing initiative to give back to the mentor

rather than simply looking to take from the relationship. Moving up in an organization

is increasingly challenging in todays companies. Having the right mentors can ease

your transition.


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Final Assignment5

References

Burns, K. (2010, Jan 13). 13 tips on finding a mentor. US News, Retrieved fromhttp://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2010/01/13/13-tips-on-finding-a-mentor

Ficke, J. R., Krueger, C. A., & Stinner, D. J. (2012). Mentoring in resident education:how to make it work.AAOS Now, 9. Retrieved fromhttp://envoy.lcc.edu:2259/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA298615151&v=2.1&u=lom_lansingcc&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w

Price, B. (2012). Key principles in assessing students' practice-based learning. NursingStandard, 26(49), 49+. Retrieved fromhttp://envoy.lcc.edu:2259/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA301282286&v=2.1&u=lom_lansingcc&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w

Ryckman, P. (2010, Sept 1). How to choose and work with a mentor. The New YorkTimes, Retrieved fromhttp://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/02/business/smallbusiness/02sbiz.html?_r=0


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Final Assignment6

Assignment #1

This class has been a great experience for me. As this is my first Siena Heights

University class, I couldnt have started off better. The class culture created from day

one by Tod is one of comfort, security, and respect for everyones backgrounds and

point of views.

Purposeful, Ethical, and Competent

This course has helped me rediscover what it is like to brainstorm with

professionals who are not as cynical as ones that I have dealt with in the past several

years. The burst of energy and excitement that I have felt discussing communication

issues with the other students has made me realign my goals and standards of what I

would like to accomplish. I have had an overwhelming need to be purposeful in my

professional life and education in the past; however, that need has diminished

significantly in the last year before this course. This course, the students, and Tod have

made such an impact on my need to purposeful that I will forever be grateful.

To be an ethical person is to truly understand and accept that your values and

beliefs make up a significant part of yourself. Communicating ethically in this course has

brought many great discussions and debates to the surface. I have become better

aware that people with opposing points of views can share similar ethical beliefs. The

class session interactions have fostered an almost shared ethical stance on

communication; wonderful results of respect.

MRivera BAM441 Final Course Paper

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