The affinity of sodium to oxygen is
such that if put in water it spontaneously combines with oxygen in the molecule
of water. Carbon needs heat to combine with oxygen. Some elements need pressure
and some need a catalyst for the reaction to happen. The inert elements never
react. Reaction is all about forming a bond; it may be strong or weak.
On the first day as a guest at the Elite
Toastmasters Club I found Toastmasters a better platform to express ideas. I
enter Toastmasters for two reasons, firstly for creativity secondly to hone my speaking
skill. In the Toastmasters a members is formally assigned a mentor. Soon came
the contest, I participated and lost. Having put in the best of my learning
when the results don’t come through, it means I missed somewhere. I tried to
understand reasons related to my failure through paying a visit to many senior Toastmasters,
but in vain.
Not losing hope, I continued to
learn. This learning started reflecting while I was on the podium and, then
started coming, the assignment on mentoring; mentoring Youth Leaders and club
members.
In jobbing it is the same raw
material with a given specification on which a repetitive processing is done to
get a predetermined product of desired specification.
Having set a plan, then comes its
execution. Sincerity in execution sets the mentor- mentee relation in good
tone. Mentoring is different from taking a lecture of mathematics, physics,
chemistry or zoology. It always demands creativity, something new always. This
is what keeps the mentee glued with you. He starts enjoying being with you,
learning from you; on the other hand the you too get enriched. A mentor is able
to see his mentee shaping up. It does not necessary imply that the mentee also
sees the same.
It is with this wisdom that I had to
push a mentee through the contest. The aftermath of the contest left him with
no words. He was holding a trophy in his hand. The mentor sees what the mentee
does not see. One more similar incident did take place with a different mentee.
A mentee sees inability, a mentor sees ability. It is a paradigm shift in perception.
At times a mentor is required to
work on other end to get things done on this end; that brings in sound
connectivity and induces confidence in the relationship.
A teacher teaches, a trainer trains,
a coach coaches and a doctor dispenses but a mentor walks an extra mile.
Mentoring is a relation which starts on a simple note but doesn't end, but
doesn't die; once a mentor, always a mentor. Mentoring is
all about creating affinity for learning, up keeping affinity for learning.
Mentoring
a spectrum of people ranging from teachers to students (college and school) and
industrial to non-industrial employees has been a rewarding experience for me.