Mentoring as a sitcom: How I met your Mother through the mentoring lens

When it comes to me, laughing is the best way to pass the time. Sometimes, however, there are fewer reasons to laugh, meaning I switch on a sitcom. At the top of the list is Friends, followed by the series about Steve Urkel (Family Matters) and How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM). So I was sitting on the plane, totally exhausted from traveling when the commercial for Ted, Marshall, Lily, Robin, and Barney came on - fitting, as I had just taken off from New York City.

It struck me that the sitcom can be compared to mentoring funnily. In the series, Future-Ted tells his children the story of how he met their mother and talks about his time in New York with his four best friends.

It could be because of my close and constant connection to mentoring that I see it that way, but I'm hoping that I may have convinced you by the end of the article that the comparison with mentoring is possible on various levels:

Future-Ted's sharing of experiences is paramount because, like the mentoring tandem, an experienced individual shares their knowledge and recommendations with others, in this case, his kids.

Ted is not the only mentor, though. The other characters in HIMYM also share their personal experiences, stories, and advice with each other - usually in a humorous way - and thus contribute to each other's growth and development. Whether it's advice on love, career, friendships, or life decisions, the group of friends seeks support, encouragement, and advice.

The sitcom uses flashbacks to bring Ted's messages to life and show the chaotic adventures the characters go through. The humorous way Ted talks about his turbulent past is fueled by thought-provoking moments. In doing so he uses his life experiences to guide his kids, the listeners, and capture the essential learning experiences. As an audience, we laugh about their encounters, but what if our own learning experiences could elicit similar reactions - well, of course after valuable insights have been gained? As their mentor, Ted shares advice and life stories and reflects on his personal experiences with his children to impart lessons for their own lives.

Not only do his Future Kids enjoy the lessons Ted teaches, but Barney, in particular, seeks advice and guidance from Ted about his life. While Barney is the learner in this constellation, always trying to benefit from Ted's advice, Ted is also struggling with his challenges and misadventures.

Both in mentoring and in HIMYM, the characters experience personal growth and change, resulting in their evolution over the course of the series by learning from their mistakes and experiences and developing into more mature people. This humorous interaction between Ted and his friends is reminiscent of the dynamic between a mentor and his mentee - perhaps a little more entertaining than in reality and definitely more chaotic!

By the way, that's my idea of informal mentoring, which I'm sure I will discuss more at a later stage.