So you want to understand yourself a little better, to bring your values into alignment with your behaviour - at work and at home. Where do you start?
"First, ask your employer do they offer a mentoring and coaching program. If not, there are plenty of companies prepared to take your credit card. It's a big industry and I definitely recommend finding someone you trust that can be a learning partner for you. Work consistently on thinking through your values and how they are being satisfied in your current roles in life and work.
It can be a semi-formal arrangement. A 17-year-old might consider asking the teacher that inspired them the most if they would be prepared to provide them with some advice while they are growing as a person. Students at university could similarly approach a professor.
If you are a professional, you might also approach someone within your organisation - they don't have to be a formal mentor or coach - just someone you admire. Ask them for 30 minutes every month to provide independent feedback and guidance on things like how to conduct yourself more professionally, navigate the political landscape or get promoted. Or how to get more enjoyment out of work.
You have to be prepared to articulate why you need a mentor or coach and think what they can provide. This puts the onus on you to figure out who you are and what you want. You will also need to make time for self-reflection, training and possibly professional development, but it all starts with an honest conversation about yourself and the behavioural change that you want to see.
Changing your behaviour is a tough thing for anyone to do. If you're a middle manager in your 40s, you have 20 or so years of entrenched behaviour to address. It will require emotional, intellectual and physical effort.
It may even mean leaving your organisation to find a mentor elsewhere that can help you. If you are not neccessarily working with people you respect or admire, sometimes you have to go looking for them."
Dr Peter McClenaghan is a Senior Lecturer in Organisational Behaviour and Leadership and a Master Coach in Leading Managing and Coaching by Values, based in the Business School at the University of New England. He consults to industry on human resources, strategic leadership, Crucial Conversations, values-based leadership development and team building. He has delivered strategic leadership programs for the Australian Institute of Management (now IML), the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), the ESADE Business School Barcelona Spain and the School of Economics and Business University of Tartu Estonia. Peter also presents programs in Malaysia, China and Vietnam, as well as a wide range of other public and private sector clients within Australia.
UNE offers a variety of leadership and management courses to suit your individual expertise and future career needs, including the Bachelor of Organisational Leadership, Bachelor of Business, Graduate Certificates in Business, Human Resource Management and Management that articulate into our Master of Business Administration and Master of Strategic Organisational Development and Human Resource Management. For more information, head to the UNE Business School website.
Go back to Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5 of this series for more.
