Colonel Candid

  Today is a day to encourage interactive dialogs and display the benefits of being a mentor and being mentored. National Mentoring Day started in 2014 with a key message to raise awareness of the invaluable and rewarding contributions that mentor makes to their recipient’s life. For those looking for a mentor, continue searching because mentors enable their mentees to achieve higher compensation, faster salary growth, increased promotions, increased job satisfaction and greater commitment to the organization. To the multitude of mentors recognized on this day, the benefits of mentoring are numerous. Mentors often have higher job satisfaction, stronger personal relationships, loyalty of supporters, and mentoring others allows for one’s own growth.   Both Anthony Tjan and Dr. Joyce Russell provide the following guidelines to becoming a better mentor.  Put the relationship first. Set realistic expectations and goals in the mentorship relationship. Create short wins a...

Photo by  Christina @ wocintechchat.com  on  Unsplash The Mentorship Blueprint Mentorship is not a foreign concept to those who succeed in national security career fields. Most people understand mentorship is important, and they likely have several types of mentors on whom they can count. To establish this lasting relationship requires an individualized approach because each relationship is unique. What is required to create a unique relationship is not foreign, and this document serves to outline the best method to map out mentorship approaches and goals. Tried and true methods are gathered here to guide and develop the mentorship relationship, to help ensure it remains on course and productive with both quantitative and qualitative results.   Mentorship relationships begin with a sharing the mentor’s experience, a long iterative phase of discovery and development, and lastly, a mentee’s expansion in talents and skills. Following this blueprint, a men...

Determination, Patience, and Perseverance are Key Finding Mentors in National Security and Defense: Determination, Patience, and Perseverance are Key Successfully finding your mentor in the national security field takes perseverance and effort. Courageously entering into the field takes herculean efforts to get a foot in the door and once established, growing within this arena takes meticulous skill, determination, and tenacity. Finding someone to help decode the system and who knows the processes is critical. To find the right mentor, whether internal or external to your agency takes work; you must be persistent. I am sharing with you steps used over my twenty years for finding the right fit and attributes to look for in a mentor. The right time to find a mentor is now. The current political, economic, and social environment matters not. Follow the example of great business that began during a depression or economic crises. For instance, UPS began during the panic of 1...

There are some mentors who can convey knowledge and valuable lessons through both their words and actions. Examples of this are Nobel Prize winners mentored by previous Nobel laureates. In the military, aides to general officers are more likely to make general themselves because they fall under the umbrella of someone who can tell them about their profession. Similarly, a mentor can expand your vision. Serving as an example, guider, and demonstrator to how the keys to the castle work. The mentoring advice I’d give you is to immediately seek someone in your profession, in your workplace to start this process. Foster a work relationship and start to explore your role as a mentee through commonality, character, and influence. If you find someone with the skills in these three areas, you’ll be off to the races in no time at all. COMMONALITY. There are limits to finding someone to assist you and most of the time this fire needs a spark to create it. Most of us are somehow connected ...

Despite what Joan Jett says, you should give a damned about your bad reputation. What people associate when your name is said is important. One of my first mentors, who really left an impression on me, told me your reputation matter above all else. As I work to mentor you, this is one of the first topics I need to share and emphasize its truth. Harken back to the old spaghetti westerns, I feel like I should paint a picture of an old grizzled, pencil thin cowboy saying, “your name is the most important thing you’ve got partner.” Seeing how I’m from the homestead of John Wayne, it’s fitting. But really, why does this matter? It matters because as you grow from an intern, to new recruit, to employee, to supervisor, what you’ve demonstrated before will boost you up or weigh you down. How you establish this reputation is demonstrated by your deeds and not your words. Think about people you hold in high regard, what have they done to earn this? Their actions spoke louder than their wo...

When you’re beginning work, Colonel Candid will provide you with some great advice given to me by a dear friend. When I started off, a mentor told me, “you can have it all, you just can’t have it all, all the time.” What I mean by that folks is that you’re going to be a part of a juggling act. There are many things that you juggle in life. Starting your first job you have to figure out your priorities and what you can handle. Most people at some point add a spouse and then add a child and/or children. At this point the advice really comes into play because you’ve got it all and your juggling like mad. Life becomes blissfully exhausting. There are times when your spouse needs much of your focus, say an illness in the family, and you’ll feel that impact at work. Understand that most people have gone through this and it’s important to have friends to share this with. Other times your children require your focus, this is so true when they are little, and your spouse and work feel t...

Colonel Candid here to help with mentorship advice after you’ve landed that first gig. Let’s take a second to assess your environment. You’ve passed through the gates and made it to the position you’ve wanted. Just like qualifying for the big race, you’re in the starting blocks and now it’s time to run. You’ve got this but it’s going to take some determination. Let’s start by looking around. What is your environment like? Each day when you walk in, who is there? What is your environment like? If you’re in a large city and people had to drive or metro in, they’re probably on edge. If you’re in a rural environment and that weather was rough during the drive, they could be in a tough spot too. So, take some time to assess the mental temperature of the room. When it’s the right time begin digging in. Start by asking questions to people who are busiest. Most of the time, the person with the least amount of time has the hardest job and will go the furthest (although this isn’t always ...

Congratulations! You've now just taken that first step into the working world. As much as it feels a little overwhelming, you're already moving in the right direction. Taking the first step really is the hardest part. Luckily, you've got a friend in me and I'm here to help. Over the years, I've had many opportunities to speak with individuals like yourself who are taking that initial step into their first role as a leader. While it is daunting, and it really is for everyone, it's also an opportunity for a great adventure. So, as Ghandi said, "Be the Change You Wish To See In The World." This is your opportunity to learn and grow. Luckily, we'll get to take that step together. One of the best gifts I ever received from the multiple leadership schools I've attended is the mindset that you carry a torch and can light the path for others. With that insight, I've worked to help mentor so many people at multiple stages in their careers and I...