FriendlyBrain Tip 301: Are you in your Element?

This week's FriendlyBrain Tip comes to you from Haider Imam of Kaizen Training.

For those of you familiar with one of the UK's driving forces of innovation and creativity in Education, Sir Ken Robinson, you'll not be surprised to know that his latest book "The Element" is a great read.

One of the themes in his stories of how well-known (and lesser known) people have found their element in their life's work is that of mentorship.  At some point in their development, each one of these people was recognised, encouraged, inspired and stretched by someone in their field.

Sir Ken describes these four parts of the mentoring process as follows:

1 - RECOGNITION

Spotting that 'spark of interest and delight' in the person you go on to mentor is where it all begins.  Then 'drilling down to the specific components of that discipline that match the individual's capacity and passion'

2 - ENCOURAGEMENT

Leading them to believe they can achieve 'something that seemed impossible or improbable before you met them', disallowing self-doubt and reminding them of the skills they have and how they will take them to 'the promised land'.

3 - FACILITATING

Giving advice, sharing techniques, modelling the way through your own behaviour - and catching them when they do well.

4 - STRETCHING

Pushing them to their current limit and then setting new challenges - holding them to a higher standard than even they might hold themselves to.

Reflecting on this, I realised that for my own rise into MY element, this holds true.  There was at least one clear mentor there for me, to help me through all four steps during the course of a couple of years.  I am truly grateful for that.  Is it the same for you?

And the difference that mentors make unofficially, as well as officially, is HUGE.  Take a look at the Harvard mentoring website.  You can read or listen to interviews with some of the world's most well-known Citizens, talking about the difference mentoring has made to their lives and careers.

So, as you begin hearing the jungle drums beating in the distance, knowing that the circle of life is calling you to either find a mentor... or take your place as a mentor...or both - do the right thing and pass it on!

This week's call to action:

• Think about your own development.  Who could be a great mentor for you at this stage in your career?  Check out the team at www.kaizen-training.com - perhaps there's a Kaizen teamie who's already at the leading edge of your natural element.  Drop them a line for a chat.
• Think about the "latent" ("talent" spelled differently) in your organisation.  Who could you be growing, and what could be the impact?
• Get a copy of Sir Ken's Book "The Element - how finding your passion changes Everything"
• Visit the Harvard Mentoring website at:  http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/chc/mentoringmonth for some inspiration!
• If you haven't already seen it, we thoroughly recommend watching Sir Ken's TED Talk on why schools kill creativity.  Inspiring and funny: and he certainly captures the essence of Brain Friendly Learning.  http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html