#25: #Mowgli – Baheera - Bhaloo (Earning your Victories )

 

Mentoring 

Mowgli – Baheera- Bhaloo (Earning your  Victories )

 Lao Tzu said, "When the Student is ready teacher will appear and when Student is really ready teacher will disappear ".

               In our childhood and even now, we enjoy kids' movies and serials,  one the popular one was  Jungle book. Apart from protagonist  Mowgli, there were two more prominent characters Bagheera the Black Panther and Bhaloo. Bhaghira saved Mowgli from the clutches of The Sher Khan, and he was part of Mowglis' adventurous journey. Bagheera kept him away from the ferocities of animals in the jungle; he showed Mowgli how to face and adapt in the jungle where everything was alien to him. At the same time, Bhaloo was another mentor who was enabling him to take decisions. He showed him how to include love and care in making decisions.

Both Bhagira and Bhaloo played a vital mentor role in his life.  In the latest movie, Mowgli has faced a critical situation in the climax; he tackled it independently and came out successfully. This what mentors does to you; they enable you and make to capable of earning your victories. They make you realise, your inner potential, ability and capability.  We need a Mentor like them who discover and recognise the true potential within us.

Coaching and Mentorship are used interchangeably, but there is a significant difference. In Mentoring, there is a desire to pass on their wisdom and learning to ENABLE  other people to develop their potential.  Coaching is small term engagement for some specific goal-oriented tasks, and once that is completed, engagement ends.   

Behind success stories, there are fantastic mentors. Even if people claim to have paved their way, there's a strong chance that someone was there early on, to set them on the right path or gave them sage advice.  

I also had a few Mentors who guided me on my journey. As protégé,  their 3Cs -Roles helped me to pave my journey.

Three Roles were  :

1.      They were my Consultant. This is the most prominent Role for a mentor,  where we reach out to them to consult for our issues or problems and seek guidance.

2.      They were my  Counsellor. They  Listened.  They listened without any judgement; they listened to understand. They gave me dedicated time to listen and counsel. And that's why this another essential aspect of the mentor-mentee relationship.

3.      They were my Cheerleader. This is my favourite; in addition to all the constructive feedback and advice, they provided me with support and enthusiasm. They extended their hand when I fell, and they cheered me for my small accomplishments and motivated me.

 

  Mentoring is an essential part of Toastmasters. As we realised the Importance of the relationship between Mentor and Mentee, it is a long-term relationship. Once the relationship is established, you can leverage your 3Cs – Consultant, counsellor, cheerleader.  Are you reaching out to your Mentor,  Because when Mentee is ready Mentor will Emerge.  Once you are in contact touch with your mentors, your victories will be yours as your Mentor will have disappeared because you are now ready to face the challenges !!!