Mentoring Part II: 5 Benefits to Mentoring

I might go as far as to argue that if you are not gaining something in return, then you aren’t putting enough effort into the mentor/mentee relationship. Sure, the bulk of the benefits should be for the mentee. However, I have had those mentor/mentee relationships where I feel I have been the one gaining the most benefits. That would extend to my mentoring of the Mandela Washington Fellows. Of course, part of that results from the cultural exchange.

Mentoring: Part I

Mentoring at its core is a symbiotic relationship. It is one where both people, the mentor and the mentee gain something of inherent value. In this two-part series, I will unpack the value of mentoring from each angle – that of the mentor and of the mentee. Let’s begin by looking at the value for the mentee.

Six Steps to Help You Think Critically

The Importance of Saying I Am Sorry

Brené Brown, in her book Dare to Lead, argues, “While some leaders consider apologizing to be a sign of weakness, we teach it as a skill and frame the willingness to apologize and make amends as brave leadership.” She also talks a lot in this book about vulnerability and there is no doubt that stepping up, in front of a colleague you just insulted or yelled at, immediately makes you vulnerable, but it also is a bridge to honesty and accountability. And without those two elements, there can never be trust.

Six Best Practices and Tips for Being Professional on Twitter

Want to know how you can be more effective professionally on Twitter? Follow these guidelines.

Three Benefits to Online Learning

Online environments allow for a greater diversity of perspectives and much more.

8 Communication Bad Habits You Need to Break

I’ve written about good communication skills and how to improve communications skills, but I haven’t written about bad ones. There are far too many to list, so I chose eight “big” ones to outline - ones you should correct immediately.

5 Traits Needed to Lead with your Heart

I recently came across a quote from Dame Minouche Shafik, the Director of the London School of Economics. She said, “In the past, jobs were about muscles, now they’re about brains, but in the future, they’ll be about the heart.” This really resonated with me, likely because I talk a lot about the necessity for empathy and compassion in the workplace and both come from the heart.

Celebrating the 100 Most Powerful Women

If you are a young woman, just starting your career, or one in mid-career, only you can define what success means to you. For some of you, that may be owning your own business, for others of you it means service, and for some still it is a path to the C-Suite. Regardless of your trajectory, we should applaud their hard work and dedication and look to their journey for inspiration.

#GivingTuesday

#GivingTuesday is a global event that occurs on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. The event was created by staff members of the Belfer Center for Innovation and Social Impact in 2012 at the 92nd Street Y. Their vision was to “connect diverse groups of people, organizations, and communities together for one common purpose: to celebrate and encourage giving.” Since its inception, #GivingTuesday occurs in more than 150 countries, more than 2.5 million gifts totaling over $300 million dollars (which translates to $12.5 million per hour) were raised last year.

The Benefits of Being Grateful

When things go haywire, get hectic, etc. thinking back on your “grateful list,” even if the items are small, can help you get through the chaos and frustration. Did you know there are benefits to being grateful? In a 2015 Psychology Today article, Amy Morin, a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist highlights “7 proven benefits” of being grateful.

Why Brainstorming is Important & How to Do It

Personally, I love brainstorming whether it is one-on-one or in a group. There is an energy that flows between the participants and as that energy builds, more ideas begin to flow. Essentially, it is a highly collaborative experience intended to bring a wide range of ideas to the table, some of which will fall to the wayside, while others will get pulled and shaped into something concrete, but what I find most exciting is when a new idea emerges, something no one entered the room with, and through the meeting it grows and develops.