My blog

Tag: Mentorship

  • Tracey Jones: Mind Management Mentorship for our Next Generation

    Tracey Jones

    Why is ‘introspective reflection’ critical for our society? And more importantly, our education system.

    As we are aware the mental health crisis among younger generations, including children, teenagers, and young adults, is a serious and growing concern in many parts of the world, supporting our younger adults and our society as a whole is becoming even more prevalent.

    We seem to have lost the ability to use our critical thinking skills and creativity especially when it comes to the emotional problem solving which enables us to deal with setbacks.

    I believe it involves addressing the challenges posed by traditional systems and embracing innovative approaches to learning.  Encouraging students and adults to think independently and analytically preparing them to tackle real-world challenges and adapt to a rapidly changing global landscape.

    A study in ‘active people HR’ stated that almost half (45%) of businesses offering tech roles claim that candidates applying for entry-level positions lack core technical skills, despite holding a relevant degree, and more than a quarter (26%) think they lack soft skills, according to new data.

    By embracing these strategies such as introspective reflection, educational systems can evolve to better support the next generation, equipping students with the skills, knowledge, and mindset needed to thrive in the 21st century. Building the capacity to learn these skills will inevitably have a knock-on effect to our economy.

    What do I mean by introspective reflection? It refers to the process of looking inward, examining one’s own thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a deep, contemplative, non-judgmental manner. It involves self-examination and self-awareness, where individuals reflect on their values, beliefs, goals, and actions to gain insight into themselves and their lives.

    Navigating complexities of introspective reflection is the main part of my work, where individuals can often reach a tipping point of burnout and struggle with diverse life transitions. Whether stemming from work-related challenges, media exposure, financial changes, selling a business, or transitioning from a specific career. Providing support during these critical moments brings me a profound sense of harmony as I impart knowledge and wisdom, empowering individuals to introspect, realign, reassess, and ultimately progress equipped with a stronger toolkit.

    Through creating an awareness and teaching people the ‘how’, individuals can better understand their emotions, motivations, and behaviours, leading to increased self-awareness and personal growth. Enabling people to elevate emotional literacy which in turn lowers stress and anxiety. Learning key pieces of information about themselves enables individuals to make greater informed decisions.

    Understanding the mind in this way can indeed contribute to creating a stronger and more cohesive society and it can help individuals navigate conflicts more effectively. By understanding cognitive biases, emotional triggers, and communication patterns, people can approach disagreements with greater understanding and seek constructive solutions.

    On a visit to Nepal last summer, I was grateful to have spent 9 days within the Kopan Monastery where I often watched Buddhist monks engage in a unique form of debate known as  “Monastic Debate”. This practice involves rigorous intellectual exchanges where monks engage in respectful argumentation to explore and deepen their understanding of Buddhist teachings and philosophy.

    Monks present and defend their viewpoints, challenge each other’s assertions, ask probing questions, and engage in critical analysis. The atmosphere is one of mutual respect, seeking truth, clarifying concepts, and sharpen one’s own understanding.

    The practice of debate also encourages active listening, empathy, and understanding of differing viewpoints. By engaging in respectful dialogue and considering diverse perspectives, monks cultivate compassion, tolerance, and open-mindedness, which are essential qualities for building strong relationships. Whilst I would watch these debates, it made me highly aware that we could learn so much from these ancient traditions.

    By exploring the depths of our minds and mastering techniques to strengthen our resilience and maintain equilibrium in times of hardship, we set out on a quest to comprehend a new language – the intricate dialect of our individual minds. Consider the transformation that could unfold if we were to systematically enhance social and emotional learning from early childhood to university, nurturing deeper understanding and wisdom each passing year within the educational framework. In the span of two decades, such dedication would undoubtedly shape a profoundly altered society.

    This form of understanding does require, patience and discipline. I feel that too often in today’s fast-paced society, where 10-second social media reels dominate our screens and attention spans, the virtues of tolerance and patience are facing unprecedented challenges. The constant barrage of quick, flashy content has created a culture of instant gratification and impatience, making it increasingly difficult for individuals to practice empathy, understanding, and restraint in their interactions with others.

    As we scroll through an endless stream of bite-sized information and entertainment, our ability to engage in deep reflection and thoughtful dialogue is eroded. The pressure to keep up with the rapid pace of online discourse can lead to snap judgments, and a lack of willingness to listen and consider differing viewpoints.

    By consciously choosing to disconnect from the relentless buzz of 10-second reels and instead engage in meaningful, face-to-face interactions, we can begin to rebuild our capacity for empathy, tolerance, and patience. It is through these deliberate acts of introspection and self-awareness that we can reclaim our ability to navigate the complexities of modern life with grace and understanding.

    As we worked through a pilot last year within schools for our Personal Growth Programme for 16–24-year-olds, we came across resistance from some of our teachers. The resistance being, “we don’t have time to work through the programme, we have so much to do”.  They understood the need for such a programme, however, teachers found themselves ensnared by the pressures of preparing students for statutory exams.

    The relentless focus on academic achievement leaves little room for nurturing essential soft skills and well-being techniques in the classroom. As teachers strive to meet rigorous curriculum requirements and ensure that students excel in standardised tests, the vital aspects of emotional intelligence, resilience, and mental well-being often take a back seat.

    The limited time and resources available are stretched thin, leaving educators grappling with the challenge of balancing academic rigor with the holistic development of their students. In this environment, the crucial task of equipping young minds with the tools to navigate life’s challenges and thrive beyond exam halls becomes a daunting and overlooked endeavour.  Whilst working through the pilot this was evident to us within the schools that we worked in. We were also made aware by one teacher that our platform needed to be more TikTok style to engage the young students. However, we decided not to go down this path as our programme is an in-depth transformational programme.

    We believe that wisdom and knowledge cannot be taught in 10 second bite size reels. It can create an awareness of a subject matter; however, the PAL programme is called ‘Preparation for Adult Life’. It does what is says on the tin. To work through the programme takes patience, time and reflection utilising our very own ‘introspection reflection education model’.

    The platform has over 400 minutes of content combining a whole host of methodologies that will support young adult in preparation for the workplace. Enabling them to build empathy, resilience, communication skills. We delve into their values and beliefs enabling them to understand themselves on a much deeper level. We were also proud to have worked alongside the ILM (Institute of Leadership and Management) bringing the age level of certification down from 18 to 16 years old.

    What surprised us whilst working through this pilot was that many of the educators wanted to personally work through the programme themselves and as a result we rewrote parts of it, created a new platform and made it more adult centric. This programme is called ‘Preparing to Lead Oneself’ (PGP Personal Growth Programme) we are currently piloting this version with over 100 educators. The feedback after 8 weeks within one establishment is “ I’m already seeing a shift with the mindset and language with our staff’.

    As we reflect on the impact of these pressures within our young adults and educators, it becomes evident that a shift in educational priorities is imperative to foster a generation equipped not only with academic prowess but also with the essential life skills needed to flourish in an ever-changing world. This is why collaboration among communities, schools, families, and policymakers is crucial in tackling the mental health crisis impacting today’s society.

     

    For more information go to: https://tjlife.net/

     

  • Review: The Letters of Seamus Heaney

    Christopher Jackson

     

    I don’t think any writer would in their right mind refuse the Nobel Prize for Literature, but there is a lot in this book to make one wonder whether it might be the right course of action should Stockholm call.

    However busy Seamus Heaney (1939-2013) – ‘famous Seamus’ as Clive James dubbed him – might have been before he was awarded the prize in 1996, life was a constant deluge of correspondence from that point on. ‘In the last two days I have written 32 letters,’ Heaney writes to the artist Barrie Cooke in 1985, ‘all of them a weight that was lying on my mind even as the accursed envelopes lay week by week on my desk. The trouble is I have 32 more to write…’ Of course, he’s too generous to point out that Cooke is by definition in the second tranche of 32.

    All poets must carry out administration, but if every one of those letters could have been a poem, this book measures out a sort of loss – the replacement of the actual work by the business of being, to use Yeats’ phrase, ‘the smiling public man’.

    Heaney had a terrific set of cards: supportive parents; warm friends; and above all, an ideal wife in the academic Marie Heaney, who bore him three adored children. Marie was the centre of his existence, but no letters to her are included here, though they certainly exist. She is still alive, and it seems likely that there will be a subsequent volume after she passes to round out the picture.

    This is therefore a tale of considerable success which was ordained, one feels, from the first. In poetry, the premier publishing house is probably still Faber and Faber, as it was in Heaney’s lifetime – a legacy of the role TS Eliot played in building up the original poetry list. It has probably gone down a bit since then since independent publishing is on the rise generally, and the books don’t quite have the caché they once did.

    In Heaney’s day to be asked to submit to Faber – not to come cap in hand – was rare. This book begins in 1964 with Heaney in his early twenties doing just that. We start then at the crest of a lifelong wave of success: Death of a Naturalist was published in 1966, and has never been off the syllabus since. Famous friendships accrued: Ted Hughes, Czeslaw Milosz, Tom Paulin, Michael Longley and so forth.

    It is also a tale of mentorship: Heaney could never resist lending a supportive voice to young poets, perhaps knowing his luck in having been elevated above his peers even from a young age. It was a network of support in relation to the endeavour of an art form which is at once charmed and economically hopeless. Even well-known poets need shoring up. ‘Poetry is small beer,’ as W.H. Auden observed. The readership is always small, and predominantly confined to fellow poets. Even Heaney, who achieved a Tiger Woods level of success, died with an estate matched by many middling solicitors. Tiger Woods himself has a yacht big enough to play golf on.

    It was always kind of him to write back to poets who needed it; this book shows us that he made so many peoples’ days. To get a letter from him would, for many poets, have constituted an instant trip to the framers. That he did this is wholly admirable.

    And I don’t think his doing it can easily be separated out from the quality of the poems, which emanate out of that same generosity of spirit. There is a kind of glow to Heaney’s poems which is to do with a good heart mining the world for consolation. These letters are like that too – and they show him to be a willing citizen in the republic of letters.

    Poetry, and increasingly, literature itself isn’t a career. What is a career is to teach in a university, and publish books on the side which sell to an audience of 200 if you’re lucky. Heaney knew that the ship of his success had created dinghy-loads of unread poets in its wake. Perhaps there was guilt to that – but if so, he converted that guilt into this special book.

     

  • Finito Candidate Phil Verney Looks Ahead to 2024

    Phil Verney

     

    Us humans are interesting creatures, aren’t we? On the face of it, one could argue that the changing of a year is merely a second changing on a clock. Yet, for many humans, it signals the opportunity for reflection and change, especially when thinking about our careers.

    On New Year’s Eve, I was lucky enough to have a guest pass to photograph London’s ever-impressive firework’s display. Standing opposite this world-renowned landmark, listening to revellers discussing their plans for 2024 and seeing technicians rehearse the countdown, I found myself reflecting on my own achievements, lessons learned, and plans for the future.

    Embarking upon a career change can feel a daunting one. Technological leaps, such as AI and a post-Covid work dynamic have resulted in a rapidly changing job landscape. Through Finito’s career change mentoring program, I have gained vital knowledge, skills and insights. For me, their attention to detail, structure and step-by-step approach has been incredibly helpful in preparing me for the next steps. I have also noticed improvements in my personal life too which was an unexpected, but most welcome benefit.

    Now, as the festive lights, trees and echoes of Auld Lang Syne disappear and 2024 gets into full swing, my own excitement is building once again to find my next role.

    I’ve been really fortunate to have had a number of incredible experiences throughout my career, notably during my time at Google, so I know the importance of a job not feeling like a chore. I very much subscribe to what Mark Twain said; “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” I remember distinctly when working on an exciting role within the Google Earth team that I couldn’t really tell much difference between a Wednesday morning and a Saturday afternoon, because of how much I was enjoying the work. This notion is what I always strive for because it’s a win-win scenario for myself and a company’s progression.

    I became aware of Finito through a previous role and had met with Ronel on a couple of occasions. I was really taken by the work of Finito and so when I decided that it was time to undertake the next steps in my career, I knew there was only one place to start.

    As mentioned, I found Finito’s step by step approach incredibly beneficial. Time keeps us all marching to a quick step, and having access to the team of experts that Ronel put together really supported me in organising all the pieces of the jigsaw required to begin a career change.

    Our starter for ten begins with me meeting Finito mentor, Claire Coe to put together my credentials and design them as a powerful, but succinct summary of my skills and experience. Everybody to whom I have shown this CV has been impressed and commented how much it stands out.

    The next stage was to meet up with Finito’s resident photographer, Sam Pearce to have some headshots taken. I had never had headshots done before, so I was a little apprehensive about this. I needn’t have been worried though as Sam did a wonderful job of putting me at ease.

    A strong LinkedIn profile is an integral part for anyone looking to network and seek opportunities, and for this part, I met a few times with Amanda Brown, whose insights and attention to detail really helped me to spruce up my LinkedIn profile, and most importantly, make it useful for others.

    Working with Finito’s presentation and body language expert, Merrill Powell was an absolutely fascinating journey for me. Whilst I had never found interviews particularly intimidating, I knew there were areas on which I wanted to improve. Merrill’s ability to offer constructive criticism was incredibly helpful and I feel as though I learned so much about myself as a whole.

     

    Establishing a really strong connection with a primary mentor is a key aspect of Finito’s approach, which I have found incredibly useful. I meet regularly with Robin Rose to explore strategy, contacts and how best to position myself. The wealth of insights that Robin has been able to impart really has been priceless.

    I met briefly with Angelina Giovani and Mike Donoghue too as Ronel felt that their insights would be beneficial.

    This multi-pronged approach has also been an excellent reminder for my own self of how much I have to offer an employer. I’ve always found that combining a career path with a long held passion is key for me. I would love to find a role where there’s a strong visual component, such as the space industry, photography or lighting/art shows.

    My plan would be to find a role that had a business development “let’s get stuck in, there’s much to do” theme to it, where I can position myself as someone to really help an organisation achieve and further its goals, and become a leader within that company. I know I’m in a good position to do all this now, thanks to the Finito programme.

  • Report shows best way to approach mentorship, and why it is crucial to success

    Patrick Crowder

    Mentorship is a practice which dates back to the beginning of human relationships, and it is an intrinsic part of how people learn, make connections, and thrive in the workplace. However, mentoring is often overlooked as a ‘tick-box’ exercise with no real value. A new report from the HR tech company MyKindaFuture shows the state of mentoring, and proves its importance, especially in the current job market.

    This is a time of major change for many workers, with a large amount of people leaving their current companies following the pandemic. The report shows that under one third of UK employees feel that they fully belong at their current company, and of those who feel they don’t fit, 80% are considering resigning to pursue a different role within the next year.

    Large career shifts which can affect your work-life balance, stress levels and ultimately your livelihood are often scary, but with the help of a trusted mentor who has been through the process before many of these fears can be alleviated. Will Akerman, who founded MyKindaFuture, explains the issue with current mentoring practices.

    “Although many mentoring programmes exist, the majority remain ineffective, undervalued and underrepresented,” Akerman says, “When implemented properly and with purpose, mentoring is a crucial tool in boosting employee engagement, progression, and retention.”

    Despite mentoring’s clear contributions towards success, only 37% of UK professionals have a mentor. The younger generation understands the importance of effective mentoring, with 79% of Millennials surveyed stating that mentorship is ‘crucial to success’. And they’re right – people with mentors are five times more likely to be promoted than those without a mentor.

    It is known and accepted that mentoring is an extremely valuable tool, but how can it be done effectively within a business? The report outlines a few key points to take into account when considering mentorship. Setting clear objectives and expectations surrounding communication, matching mentors to mentees with shared values, and measuring the outcomes of a mentoring programme are all ways to improve the effectiveness of mentorship.

    The report also suggests that mentoring programmes most often fail due to lack of clarity, poor matching of mentor and mentee, lack of personal choice in the mentorship process, and the use of a mentoring scheme to reinforce company culture with no room for flexibility. Many mentorship programmes are effective, but Akerman believes that more employers must start taking mentoring seriously.

    “Employers cannot continue to view mentoring as a simple tick-box exercise,” Ackerman says, adding that, if done well, mentoring “can directly benefit a business’ bottom line.”

    Credit: https://www.mykindafuture.com

  • 2022 Highlights: New Finito Head of Admissions Georgina Badine on what makes a good mentor

    Patrick Crowder

     

    At Finito, we continue to believe that effective mentoring is the one thing which can really make a difference to someone’s life chances. One of the joys of the work the organisation does is to receive testimonials after an assignment. In these we see the numerous ways – both big and small – in which one-to-one mentoring can alter lives.

    But it’s also an interesting question as to how mentors are made. What is it which inspires people to give back? And how do we at Finito make sure our service adds value to every mentee which comes through our doors?

    Georgina Badine has just been appointed Finito’s new Head of Admissions. She will be responsible for recruiting new mentees and guiding them through their journey towards employment and a fulfilling career. She oozes passion about her new role and is passionate about driving up student intake, and helping to manage the journeys of Finito candidates.

    Badine has had a fascinating and varied career, with extensive experience in finance at Barclays, and then in business, recently setting up boutique commercial property business Treio, which recently paired with Finito World. Georgina has the knowledge and network to guide Finito mentees to success. But even before assuming the role, she had already proved herself a skilled mentor, having tutored students and adults from all walks of life in both French and English.

    Ronel Lehmann, Chief Executive of Finito Education Limited, welcomed the appointment, and referred to Badine’s recent client relationship with the business: “We are fortunate that a former client of Finito was so impressed with the work that we do that she immediately wanted to join us. As with all our student and career change mentoring candidates, we always help to make things happen.”

    So how did Badine become interested in mentoring? “My passion for mentorship started when I was in school,” Badine recalls. “I was a member of the National Honor Society and, within that, you would be expected to mentor and tutor other students. I got involved and I saw that I really enjoyed it, and then I started helping my friends and children of friends with different issues.”

    It is this passion which marks out a mentor: very often Finito mentors will have been doing their own mentoring, sometimes as a kind of private volunteering, before they join us. Recent testimonials show that Badine’s mentoring can be truly transformative.

    One mentee, Matthias Alvarado-Schunemann, tells us: “I have been mentored by Georgina from Finito for about six months now. Having her as a mentor has helped my confidence greatly as I prepare for the next chapter of my education with university. She helped me to write a well-presented personal statement for university as well as practicing my interview skills by doing various mock sessions. Her mentoring helped me decide which course I wanted to study and how to best articulate this to the various universities I decided to apply to.”

    Badine’s mentoring also has another focus: “I’m very passionate about helping people who are being bullied either at school or in the workplace, and I feel that nowadays, a lot of people might be afraid to speak up,” she continues.

    Some of what drives her, then, is personal experience: “I’ve also experienced quite a lot of adversity myself being a young woman in the finance world, when the treatment of women is often not what you would hope or expect. I know that I would have benefited from having a mentor to support me and stand up for me. I think too often people stay quiet if something is happening in the workplace or at school, and I think more needs to be done to help these people.”

    Badine’s new role will also involve public speaking and organising events for Finito mentees. When it comes to bolstering the Finito network and creating opportunities to learn from top-level speakers, Badine’s wheels are already turning.

    “I have quite a few ideas,” she says. “For example, I’m looking to organise an event within a restaurant, as I have a few connections in the hospitality space. It’s all about getting the word out about what we’re doing and inviting the right types of people to these events,” Badine continnues. “In addition to that, I am thinking about Geneva and Paris, where I have connections – as well as the US. Finito is a unique and trail-blazing organisation and I feel now is the time, with over 60 business mentors, for it to deepen its global ambition, like its magazine Finito World.”

    So what kind of events will Badine be running? “We’ll get engaging speakers to come in, and I’ll speak as well, but I’m also really interested in getting people who are being mentored to come. Candidates who are considering joining Finito will want to hear that side of things. My main plan is to organise events, meet with my network, and find the best way to spread the word about our mentorship.”

    Badine is also keen to stress that everybody is welcome in the Finito family. When a candidate comes to Finito for help, often they will have an idea of what it is they would like to do. However, Badine points out that this is also not always the case, and it’s certainly not a prerequisite. “We never turn a candidate away and we never let them go until we succeed,” she says.

    She also offers some closing advice for those about to enter the world of work: “It’s important to do various internships in different industries because I know what it’s like; I initially wanted to be a journalist. I was convinced that was what I wanted to do, and I did various internships, but when I found that internship in banking I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I saw a different side to it, and had I not done that internship I wouldn’t have realised what that side was,” Badine explains.

    Badine, then, brings a profound passion for mentorship, a global outlook, and a unique network to the business. She also illustrates the need for businesses to be dynamic coming into a period which few observers of the global economy expect to be plain sailing.

    But perhaps as much as any of these things, she brings compassion and empathy to her role. “It’s very difficult to know what you want to do when you’re 18, so I think getting different experiences is very important,” she explains. “I would also say that it’s not just about the firm you’re going to work for, it’s who you’re going to work for. Look at not just what you want to do, but who you want to learn from. It should be someone who inspires you, because having a good boss is very important.”

    https://www.finito.org.uk/management_team/georgina-badine/