Articles

by Rik Nemanick, Ph.D. Goals are important for anyone who is trying to develop or improve. They are especially important in mentoring partnerships. That said, many protégés have not have articulated their goals to their mentors. As a result, mentoring ends up being tactical, dealing with situations as they arise. A shared understanding of the protégé’s goals helps mentoring in several ways: •     Determining Priorities. Goals help the mentor understand where the protégé is trying to go and how the mentor can help. •     Evaluating Opportunities. When opportunities arise, goals are a criterion to decide which option will... Read More

Mentoring in Practice A Conversation with James A. Young, Vice President – Engineering, Naval Systems/St. Louis Site, The Boeing Company Q:  How long have you been at Boeing and its predecessor companies? What are some of the roles you have had? A: I started out at McDonnell-Douglas in 1970.  I was a structural mechanical engineer and I spent my time in strength analysis where I had some really good technical coaches.  I worked my way through there, then had an opportunity to lead a group and work on the production floor for a while.  Then I had the opportunity to be... Read More

by Rik Nemanick, Ph.D. I am often asked what the difference is between “mentoring” and “coaching”. While many people use the terms interchangeably, I think of them as being related but different. Part of the distinction can be seen in their respective definitions:  Coach: a tutor who gives private or specialized teaching.  Mentor: an experienced and trusted adviser. As an activity, coaching tends to be focused teaching that usually has a brief timeframe for the purpose of improving the learner’s skills. Mentoring, on the other hand, builds more on the experience of the mentor than specific teaching, and is more... Read More