[Flash] Micro-Mentoring with Newspaper Clippings
Ann Tardy, CPA, JD, CSP
MentorLead CEO & Founder | Helping hospitals tackle their retention and leadership challenges with customized strategic mentoring solutions
My dad was never one to sit down and give advice. We never had father-daughter talks. Perhaps he didn't feel confident or competent doing so. This month marks 18 years since he passed away, so I can't ask him...
But my dad was a prolific micro-mentor.
Micro-mentoring: sharing wisdom in atomically small moments.
My dad read four different newspapers each day, intentionally seeking a variety of perspectives. Always in print. Never online.
Invariably while reading these papers, he would find an article that he thought would contribute to my current adventure. When I enrolled in law school, he noticed articles on law firms. When I moved to San Francisco, he looked for articles about the golden state. When I started my own business, he found articles on entrepreneurship.?
He would clip the article, write at the top, "Ann - FYI. Dad," and then mail it to me. Typically, I'd receive a newspaper clipping once a week.
Every time my dad sent an article, he thought of me, encouraged my journey, shared a fresh idea or perspective, and sent me a resource.
Unfortunately, perhaps due to maturity, I didn't always recognize or appreciate it. But he was undeterred, as all great mentors are.
Today, I realize the value of micro-mentoring and often emulate his practice.
To start micro-mentoring:
Interestingly when my mom started dating again, she met (and married) Allan, also versed in micro-mentoring. Today, Allan regularly sends me links to articles (but in this decade, I receive them via text).
And now I can recognize the effort, appreciate the contribution, and deliberately leverage the nuggets of wisdom.
? 2021. Ann Tardy and Mentor Lead. www.mentorlead.com
Consultant, Coach and Executive Leader
3 年Thank you Ann for reinforcing how important and timeless this practice is to our personal and professional lives.
Print Sourcing and Purchasing Specialist
3 年I love this!