Page 396 - kf fyi for your improvement license eng 3-4-15

8. Need to break a habit? Try new approaches. Stuck in the ways the advocate/mentor passed on to
you? Do you approach situations much the same every time? Then switch approaches. Do something
totally different next time. If you visited the office of someone you have difficulties with, invite them to
your office next time. Compare the situations and see which was more valuable. Develop three
different ways to get the same outcome. For example, to push a decision through, you could meet
with stakeholders first, go to a key stakeholder, study and present the problem to a group, call a
problem-solving session, or call in an outside expert. Be prepared to do them all when obstacles
arise.

9. Need an advocate? Engage, but also establish your independence. A mentor, guide, or advocate
can be an invaluable resource to help you thrive in an organization. The advice and feedback they
provide can contribute significantly to your career progression. However, the trick is to take
advantage of this special relationship long enough to get plugged in and comfortable but not so long
that you question whether you could have done it on your own. That usually means unplugging before
you want to. Before you become too comfortable. Before the mentor has taught you everything you
need to know. Before you get evaluated as being overdependent on an advocate. Start early to find
multiple models, multiple advocates. Make sure at least five key figures know who you are and what
you can do.

10. Ready to say good-bye? Know when to move on. One situation involves what to do when your
advocate/mentor stumbles, falls, fails, or leaves. Many times, the person may ask you to join them in
the next company. Think very carefully about that. There are many cases of entourages of people
following a general manager from company to company. You will be an outsider. Your career will be
closely tied to the person you are following. The same thing will happen to you in the next company,
only faster. If they fall out of favor but stay, be supportive but keep out of it. It’s not your problem.
Don’t go around defending your advocate/mentor. You will get tainted too. The other situation occurs
when you decide to change jobs within your organization. Advocates/mentors may not buy the fact
that you have to establish a performance track on your own to be truly successful. They may think or
say that they can counsel you to the top. You don’t need to take another job. You don’t need to work
for someone else. Remember that these kinds of wonderful relationships have advantages for both
sides. They get things they need from you also. You are in no way rejecting or devaluing your
advocate/mentor by breaking free. In a sense, it’s a celebration of the success the advocate/mentor
has had with you. You are now fully prepared to go it on your own. Be appreciative. Keep a light in
the window. And move on to new vistas.

Job assignments
• Make peace with an enemy or someone you’ve disappointed with a product or service or someone
you’ve had some trouble with or don’t get along with very well.
• Become a referee for an athletic league or program.

• Be a change agent; create a symbol for change; lead the rallying cry; champion a significant change
and implementation.

• Run (chair) a task force on a pressing problem.
• Handle a tough negotiation with an internal or external client or customer.

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