The Elements of Mentoring [Hardcover]

W. Brad Johnson (Author), Charles R. Ridley (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1403964017 | ISBN-13: 978-1403964014 | Publication Date: April 17, 2004 | Edition: First Edition

Patterned after Strunk and White's classic The Elements of Style, this reference concisely summarizes the substantial existing research on the art and science of mentoring. The Elements of Mentoring reduces this wealth of published material on the topic to the fifty most important and pithy truths for supervisors in all fields. These explore what excellent mentors do, what makes an excellent mentor, how to set up a successful mentor-protégé relationship, how to work through problems that develop between mentor and protégé, what it means to mentor with integrity, and how to end the relationship when it has run its course. Succinct and comprehensive, this is a must-have for any mentor or mentor-to-be.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

What Strunk and White's Elements of Style is to writing and Richard Bayan's Words That Sell (1984) is to advertising, Johnson's and Ridley's slim but meaty volume will be a classic for future mentors. Both authors are professors of psychology and have meticulously and concisely boiled the plethora of material written on the subject of mentoring down to 50 key elements. The book seems overly geared to mentoring in a corporate setting, but anyone who is attempting this noble work--be it schoolteacher, big brother, or music pedagogue--will find useful advice here, which is not only turned outward toward encouraging proteges but also inward in a section titled "Know Thyself as a Mentor: Matters of Integrity." The authors have left no stone unturned in their treatment, even dealing with the ever-present possibility of sexual attraction between mentor and protege. This is sure to become a standard in the field. Allen Weakland
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"This book represents a well-articulated approach to the principles of mentoring that is sure to be a landmark work. Jam-packed with exciting ideas, it highlights precisely why and how mentoring is undertaken in various workplace settings. The authors respond to the rapidly changing world of work by delivering an extraordinary range of tools and options for professionals who wish to be ethical, thoughtful teachers and coaches to their protégés. Well written and highly readable, it offers practical applications using exemplary case studies. This gem of a resource will aid the reader in understanding how to apply the mentoring microskills presented throughout. This is a must read for anyone who aspires to excellence as a leader and mentor." -- Mary H. Guindon, School of Professional Studies in Business and Education
Johns Hopkins University

" Johnson and Ridley carefully explain the skills, attitudes and values that make for effective mentoring. In this useful guide, they point out what helps and what could hurt these developmental relationships. A must read for mentors and protégés alike. I recommend it highly" -- Winston E. Gooden, Ph.D., Dean, Fuller Graduate School of Psychology

"Johnson and Ridley have distilled the essence of how to be a successful mentor in a well written succinct compendium they accurately describe as the "nuts and bolts" of effectively advancing the careers of junior colleagues in a caring, yet rigorous manner. The advice contained here holds significant value across work sites and professions, and can benefit both potential mentors and those wishing to find a mentor. I recommend this book to anyone hoping to guide the next generation in their field or hoping to find such a guide." --Gerald P. Koocher, Professor and Dean, School for Health Studies, Simmons College
"The Elements of Mentoring is destined to become a classic due to its concise
approach and timeless value in helping to create win-win situations for individuals
committed to helping others achieve more. ...This excellent book has the potential to bring out your best: read it!"--Leadership & Organization Development Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; First Edition edition (April 17, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1403964017
• ISBN-13: 978-1403964014
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #937,893 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Already The Classic Guide to Mentoring, May 6, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Elements of Mentoring (Hardcover)

As the Chief Operating Officer for a large medical technology company, I have mentored many junior professionals for years. But until now, I've never found a guide on the art of mentoring that lays out the specific details and skills mentors should master. Imagine my delight at discovering a short but comprehensive resource for everything a new mentor should learn and a seasoned mentor should reconsider. The authors promise a "nuts and bolts" guide to doing mentoring based on the writing style of the classic "Elements of Style" guide to grammar. The authors do not disappoint on this score. Amazingly, they manage to cover all of the key ingredients to outstanding mentoring without resorting to stories or wordy narrative. In reading the "Elements of Mentoring," one gets the sense that he or she is gleaning the distilled wisdom of two master mentors. The book is brief but jam-packed with the crucial details of starting a good mentorship, managing it successfully, and even bringing it through difficult transitions. I was impressed that the authors (both college profs) used lots of research in putting the book together (see the references) without cluttering the pages with it. I am not a frequent Amazon reviewer, but after reading this thorough but brief resource, recommending it to several colleagues, and pulling it down from my shelf already to re-read a section relevant to one of my current subordinates, I felt compelled to recommend it to other managers and leaders. One of the few books on developing junior talent I've been glad I paid for.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Too academically preppy for me..., November 13, 2008

By 

J. Brown (Florida United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Elements of Mentoring (Hardcover)

This book may prove valuable if the reader has little or no background with self development and leadership as it relays a lot of truths from those areas with respect to mentoring.

However, this book is just not my style. I prefer down to earth, straightforward advice without excess words. My style may not be yours...if you find the following three sentences valuable this book may be for you.

1. "Reinforce creativity while tempering over-expansiveness with reality and pragmatics."

2. "Allow the protege to serve as your emissary at times--shielded by your reflective power and functioning on your behalf."

3. "Understand that your affirmative narration will be quite meaningful to your protege and that it will strengthen the mentorship bond."

I read this book front to back and there is a significant amount of repetition. This book is best suited as a reference...if you have an issue or an interest use the index to just read about that particular topic.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Gift, May 7, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Elements of Mentoring (Hardcover)

This is a valuable book. These authors have managed to distill a very broad topic into easily applied principles. As both a mentor and protege I am grateful for this book. I am now ordering this book as a gift for all my favorite mentors in my Harvard post-doctoral program. I recommend you do the same for those menotors in your life.