Mentorship transforms lives. How many of us recognize those people who helped us along the way in life and have appreciated them fully? I specifically remember the moment when a high school coach and mentor told me forty-four years ago that I would start, for the simplest of reasons: I had earned that privilege.
In this article, Herb Welling shared from the Herb on Hoops Facebook group, Bill Russell shares his story of mentoring. Here are a few excerpts from the article:
The truth is, that in all walks of life, mentors transform lives.
You need to be there, physically present and in the moment, so you can look a person in the eye. That’s how you make a difference.
In A Game Plan for Life, John Wooden shares stories about seven of his mentors, ranging from his father, to his college coach (Piggy Lambert), a posthumous model (Abraham Lincoln), and his beloved wife Nell.
In the Navy, "the Boss", Captain T.E. Walsh expressed it another way, "I am your mentor...and your tormentor." The Boss simply expected us to approach any problem the way he would and "handle it." That meant "take care of your business."
MENTOR is a bit unusual because it serves both as a NOUN and a VERB. Of course, that's not unique, as a negative word PIRATE, also serves both functions.
As coaches, we provide mentoring about sports but more importantly about life. We promote values like commitment, discipline, effort, humility, passion, and sacrifice. But we have the regular opportunity to model positive attitude, communication, and thoughtful decision-making to our mentees.
Find moments to praise players for "getting it right." The powerful message "I believe in you" remains undiminished through a lifetime.