Connecting

We were meant for each other.
None of us are fully equipped to excell in life. Our weaknesses, blind spots, limited capabilities, and lack of experience all point to one thing - interdependence, which is why connecting with others plays such an indispensable role in healthy development.

Having access to the wisdom, vision, and direction of those who have gone before can put you years ahead of where you would be on your own. In addition to enhancing your own potential in all of life's growth areas, the things you will discover will equip you to help others as well.

So why don't we place more of a priority on developing these essential empowering relationships? Are we uneasy with the vulnerability, assuming it will be perceived as weakness? Do we hesitate to ask, not wanting to impose on anyone esle's busy schedule? Are we reluctant to provide guidance for others, not wanting to come across as proud or self-important?

Each of these factors can play a part, of course. But the main reason we miss out, according to Stanley and Clinton, is that we simply don't understand the true nature of mentoring - a problem that is easily overcome.

The fruit of over 40 combined years of experience, and research into the lives of more than 600 past and present leaders, CONNECTING will show you:
How to find the right mentors, even when it seems none are available
How the three dynamics of successful mentoring can guarantee rewarding relationships
What a balanced range of mentoring relationshps should look like, and how they can help you avoid the five most common forms of failure
Dozens of illustrations and ideas on how mentoring can work for you right now, at whatever stage of life you find yourself

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Contents
Illustrations
Tables and Figures
Preface
  1.  Relationships That Make a Difference
  2  .Understanding Mentoring
  3.  Intensive Mentoring: The Discipler
  4.  Intensive Mentoring: The Spiritual Guide
  5.  Intensive Mentoring: The Coach
  6.  Occasional Mentoring: The Counselor
  7.  Occasional Mentoring: the Teacher
  8.  Occasional Mentoring: The Sponsor
  9.  Passive Mentoring: The Contemporary Model
10.  Passive Mentoring: The Historical Model
11.  The Constellation Model: A Range of Needed
       Mentoring
12.  Peer Co-Mentoring
13.  The Ten Commandments of Mentoring
14.  Finishing Well
Appendix
Notes
References Cited in This Book
Annotated Bibliography