Lois J. Zachary - Starting Strong: A Mentoring Fable

Whether seeking to strengthen your own mentoring practice, administer a mentoring program within your organization, or develop your ability to tune in to others and navigate candid conversationsStarting Strong provides a unique avenue to help mentors and mentees become more reflective, observant, and introspectiveto allow them to grow into the type of professionals they wish to become.

Peg McCue Guillon, chairperson, MetLife Legal Affairs Mentoring Program

Remarkable! One of the finest books I have read on mentoring, this accessible and practical book reads like a novel, and rings with the reality of the business world even as it brilliantly moves us deep inside the mentoring relationship at its best. Zachary and Fischler both entertain and instruct us as we watch how a savvy yet very human mentor works with an earnest younger protg, artfully ripening the relationship into the kind of respect and affection that characterizes a powerful mentoring experience. For anyone wanting to learn more or teach others about how mentors can make a difference in real peoples lives, this trove of practical advice and genuine wisdom is pure gold.

Laurent A. Parks Daloz, Senior Fellow, Whidbey Institute, and author of Mentor: Guiding the Journey of Adult Learners

In this strikingly engaging book, Zachary and Fischler focus on one of the most important dynamics in mentoring: how trust is established at the beginning of the relationship. The story of Rafa and Cynthia is one of bumps and affirmations, growing understanding, and the conjunction of ambition and experience. Through a series of conversations that show the ways listening and questioning work to deepen communication, Starting Strong takes us to the heart of what it means to be a mentor.

Stephen Brookfield, John Ireland Endowed Chair, University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis-St. Paul

Congratulations, you have a mentor (or mentee)! Now what? Instead of winging it, hoping for the best, you can now structure the relationship right from the beginning to make it a satisfying experience for both of you. Part fable, part guidebook, part manual, the authors have highlighted the keys to success for a rich mentor-mentee partnership. Starting Strong is not to be missed by anyone open to this life-changing partnership.

Marshall Goldsmith, author of the New York Times and global bestseller What Got You Here Wont Get You There

I love this book! It captures the essence of mentoring in a very unique way by taking the reader on an intimate journey as two individuals create and foster their mentoring relationship. The insights gained will enable those new to the mentoring process and those who have been involved for years to acquire insights and understandings theyve never before fully explored. If you buy only one book on mentoring this year, it should be this one.

Dr. Frances Kochan, Wayne T. Smith Distinguished Professor, Auburn University

Lois Zachary and Lory Fischler provide insight into the distinction, yet interdependence, of a mentoring and coaching culture. Highlighting the keys to fostering successful and sustainable mentoring relationships, their easy-to-read storytelling style and practical working guides make this an invaluable resource to any individual or group mentoring or coaching program looking to adopt successful techniques.

Dr. Joanne Robinson, director of professional development, Ontario Principals Council

Starting Strong is a very readable, real-world how-to reference for understanding just how mentoring works. Once you read the fable and use the playbook, you will have all the tools you will need to deepen and enrich your mentoring practice.

Michele D. Klein, senior engineering manager, Fortune 100 Aerospace Corporation

Starting Strong is an engaging story that contains all of the most important elements of successful mentoring relationships. This incredible format will make the tools of mentoring accessible to many people who are unlikely to read workbooks and manuals. I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated Starting Strong and look forward to using the book in our program.

Joanne Goldberg, Medtronic Womens Network

Lois J. Zachary, Lory A. Fischler

Strategies for Success in the First 90 Days

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Zachary, Lois J.

Starting strong : a mentoring fable / Lois J. Zachary, Lory A. Fischler.