Accountability & Growth
An exploration in domain-specific mutual mentorship
Evan Dana 2/1/2016
High Level > Origination > Structure > Evolution > Conclusion
Purpose: Inspire through story
Objective: Explain program and its progress
Approach:
Next Steps: Use this deck to stay motivated!
High Level Description
NOT "official"
How it differs from "offical"
- Format control
- Increased domain relevance
- 100% mentor-pairing control
Search your email for "Mentorship" to learn more about the official program
Basics
- Independently pursued
- 1:1, dual mentorship
- Domain matching
- Guidance
- Goal setting
- Periodic and accountable reviews
more details in following sections...
Who is it for?
- Anyone who wants to own their own growth
- Motivated individuals who want guidance and accountability
Origination
- I have a growing list of things I'd like to learn, but haven't learned them yet!
- Accountability helped with workout attendance, so let's try it here
- Who do I know that is available and can guide me in my goals?
Impediments to Self-Learning
- Decreased motivation from lack of prioritization
- Decreased motivation from dead ends
- No deliverables
What gives job satisfaction?
- Achievement
- Recognition
- Responsibility
- Growth
"Why Employees Stay" Harvard Business Review, https://hbr.org/1973/07/why-employees-stay/sb1
sidenote
The Structure
- Selecting a Mentor/Mentee
- Guidance
- Goal setting
- Periodic and accountable reviews
Selecting a Mentor/Mentee
Strengths
YOU
PARTNER
MENTOR
MENTEE
Growth goal areas
Strengths
Growth goal areas
Guided Learning
- Long term goal planning
- Short term goal planning
- Context setting
- Choosing a relevant focus
- Achievable tasks
- Realistic tasks
- Specific tasks
- Time-bounding
Mentorship program aims to help the mentee with...
"SMART Goals" HR at MIT, http://hrweb.mit.edu/performance-development/goal-setting-developmental-planning/smart-goals
Accountability
- Reviewing completed tasks
- Measuring task completion
Mentorship program aims to help the mentee with...
Resources and Connections
- Recommendations for books, blogs, conferences, etc...
- Introductions to co-workers and other professionals
Mentorship program aims to help the mentee with...
Initial Meeting
- 60 minutes
- Discuss and agree on
- Broad structure
- Approach
- Commitment level
- Domain compatibility
Mentorship program schedule
Meeting 1 (odd weeks)
- 30 minutes (15 min each)
- Ensure progress and motivation
- Resolve road blocks
Mentorship program schedule
Meeting 2 (alternating weeks)
- 90 minutes
- Review task completion (30 min each)
- Review and record if commitment was achieved
- Record major learnings from tasks or process
- Devise plan for next 2 weeks (15 min each)
- Record commitments and measurements
Mentorship program schedule
Meet outside the office!
- Encourage out-of-the-box thinking
- Increase likelihood of doing it
- Make it a place you want to go!
- Reduce work distractions
Mentorship program tip
Guinea Pigs
At the start...
So, Evan, how is it going?
Wait, did it fail?
hint: It's still a success!
Current context
- Both of us are 110+% booked
Current benefits
- Motivation
- Continued accountability to be productive in down-time
- Relationship building
- Guidance
- Fielding domain-specific, social, and career questions
Conclusion
Pros
- Achievement
- Recognition
- Responsibility
- Growth
Where have we seen this before?
Deltas
- Requires strong commitment to make time for it when busy
- Keep digital records! (Even snapshots of meeting notes)
How to make it successful
- What growth excites you?
- Who can help you grow like that?
- Customize the process!