Your Harshest Critic (part 2)

Let me tell you about another conversation I had with a now-retired colleague.

This one wasn’t really a conversation, though. No smart-aleck remarks, either.

That senior-level colleague and I were on a departmental committee together, one that I was asked to lead (despite my junior status). My lack of experience might have been obvious.

The day after our little committee met for the first time, Senior Colleague just strides into my classroom like he owned the place, mere moments before class was to begin, grabs the white board marker right out of my hand, turns, and writes in big, clear letters:

“Management is the art of getting things done through the efforts of other people.”

He put the marker back in my hand and looked me in the eye.

“Dave, remember this and you’ll be fine.”

Now I know he didn’t make that quote up, but he knew that I needed to hear that… and at that time… and from him… so I could be better at my job.

A mentoring intervention.

Thanks, Jerry, for the Mentorvention.

How about you? Have you had your mentor arrive just when you needed them?

That person might be close to you right now. Pay attention.

See you tomorrow.

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