Dual Footprints Part 6 – A Commitment to Grow and Listen
Mentoring and Commitment
At this point in the series on mentoring, it would be well to review the definition of commitment, which is “a pledge or promise; obligation.”1
Common sense dictates that a person who desires mentoring would be committed to the process, but that is not always the case. The mentee may faithfully commit to meeting with the mentor, but the mentee may not commit to taking actions necessary to grow, develop, and transform into a better person, family member, employee, or citizen.
On the other hand, there are mentees who may be defensive at first, but they work to overcome their hurdles, and then transform into people of stronger character.
Does That Really Happen?
The statements above do happen and below are two examples:
- Peter Procrastinator was always on time, claimed that he wanted to grow, desired to change careers, but never took the necessary actions to make his situation better.
- Danny Disputer met with me because he wanted to do better in the fire department promotional process. As I reviewed my observations of him and his answers after an interview he participated in, this individual wanted to argue with me and dispute what I saw and heard.
Peter Procrastinator
The world of fear and comfort trapped Peter Procrastinator in a family-owned business. Fear that he could never do the same job in another corporation. Fear that he would anger his father who founded the company. Comfort because he had a guaranteed paycheck with benefits, but he also feared losing both.
Danny Disputer
Danny desired the promotion to the next level in the fire department, but initially he resisted hearing the truth that his performance and answers during the interview process were subpar. As he attempted to argue with me, I informed Danny that our conversation would end. Danny took a breath, apologized, listened to what I said, and he took notes. Danny now serves in another fire department at the chief officer level.
What’s The Difference Between Peter and Danny?
The difference between the two is not only a level of commitment and self-awareness, but one engaged in the “Law of Intentionality” which states, “growth doesn’t just happen.”2 Another difference is that Peter has miserably meandered through life while Danny transformed into a person of stronger character with a successful career.
What About You?
Where do you fit into the spectrum of personal growth, development, and transformation? Are you Peter Procrastinator or Danny Disputer? Please comment below and email me at info@impactusleadership.com or visit my website at www.impactusleadership.com to learn more about how I can help you in this and other areas.
1 Commitment Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
2John C. Maxwell, The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth (New York: Hachette Book Group, 2012), 1
