Background Story

In 2015, I was hired by Jon McAloon to join his team at the Fredericton Christian Academy (FCA). As of 2022, Jon has been the Head of Schools at FCA for over a decade and has led the school with great vision and energy. As has been well documented in my blog, in 2015, Jon didn’t just encourage and maintain an open door policy with me, as I fumbled through my first year as an educator. He was intentional. He gave me leadership literature and impressed upon me the importance of finding mentors to develop lasting relationships with.  On further reflection, with sharpened perspective gained from years as an educator at some phenomenal international schools, I continue to see Jon’s gems of wisdom shine brighter. I call this particular gem the “mentorship mindset”. It has helped me to continually develop as a leader and I hope that it will benefit you in the same way.

What are Mentors? 

Mentors are experts in any domain of life (personal, spiritual, professional, recreational, etc.) who have experience worth learning about. Mentors can be those who have more experience than you, positional leaders, or those that you admire for certain personal qualities. 

Why Mentors? 

Developing a relationship with a mentor using the “mentorship mindset” will help you to gain perspective in ways that you haven’t before. Not to mention it will put some wind in your sails, generating forward momentum toward your goals. 

Where to Find a Mentor? 

When looking at others with a “mentorship mindset” you will ask questions like: Who in my field of work is the best at what they do? Who in their relationships with their loved ones is a master of care and provision? Who is generous with their time and resources? Who is worth learning from? 

You can find mentors in your family, at your workplace, at your faith community, or social networks. They really are everywhere. Keep in mind that not all mentors are created equal and not everyone with experience will make a good mentor. There are times when I have asked people to mentor me, started to learn from them and then realized that our leadership philosophies were different. This is not a deal breaker, it presents an opportunity to learn from another perspective. Erring on the side of listening intentionally and being willing to learn from others will often result in your growth. That’s one of the beauties of the “mentorship mindset”. 

How to Start a Mentorship Relationship? 

Pro tip: walk up to someone that you would like to learn from. Hold your hands together at around chest height, fingers pointed at the sky, bow ever so slightly, and say “teach me sensei”. This works for me every time! 

In reality, I don’t bow as often as I should. I try to start the relationship more organically. Asking if I can buy them lunch or set up a brief meeting during a time that works for them. It can be formal or informal. No amount of time with a mentor is too short. It doesn’t matter if they only have two minutes available in their schedule or are walking from one side of the building to another. You have the opportunity to glean something from them, so take it! Then I will spend as much time listening as possible while taking notes. Once our time reaches the end, I will thank them between 2 & 7 times and then ask when we can meet again. 

The reality is that people love to feel valuable and important. We all know this from personal experience, that having purpose is an overarching human desire. If you approach a would-be mentor and say something like, “Hey I really admire how you do x, y, and z. My goal is to be a fraction as good at x, y, and z as you are. I would really appreciate the opportunity to learn from you.” They just might be flattered and be remiss not to share their experience with you. 

Here’s the point: Be bold enough to adopt a “mentorship mindset”. In minutes, mentors will help you learn what took them years of experience to understand. Mentors will fill up your cup with wisdom and encouragement in order to help you push forward toward your goals. Find a mentor this week to expand your leadership! You’ll be glad that you did. 

Steps to having a “Mentorship Mindset”

• Set some goals. Figure out what in your education, career, or life you would like to improve.
• Look around. Determine who is wise in the area(s) that you would like to improve.
• Set it up. Ask them to meet with you. Don’t forget to bow : ) 
• Prepare. Bring a list of context specific questions, an open mind, and be ready to take notes. Example questions: What have you been learning recently? What steps did you take on your journey in your field? Tell me a story from your experiences. What would you differently if you were starting your career over?
• Thank them. They are providing their time and expertise, two valuable resources! 
• Debrief. On your own, record your thoughts & reflections from the meeting. Focus on one gem of wisdom or action step for you to take. 
• Repeat. Set up another meeting. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. Visit my Connect Page to get in touch. 

Peace & Blessings, 

– Josiah 

References 

Lencioni, P. (2020) The Motive: Why So Many Abdicate Their Most Important Responsibilities. John Wiley & Sons. 

Maxwell, J. C. (2008). Mentoring 101: What Every Leader Needs to Know. HarperCollins Leadership.

Maxwell, J. C. (2012). The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. HarperCollins Leadership.