Delighted to release the 50th issue of the monthly "Ymag" - a window for action loving professionals. Download from www.thepersonnellab.com/ymag or http://issuu.com/rajivkhurana/docs/ymag50-hr.
2. Y#50 May 1, 2016
Window for action loving
PROFESSIONALS
2
The choice of Krishna as the ideal mentor is due to the fact that
Krishna performed multiple roles and had numerous mentoring
styles. He was leader, manager, negotiator, manipulator,
motivator, influencer, all rolled into one. An account of his
mentorship would therefore enable us see the diverse styles of
mentoring that are needed for diverse situations.
Krishna
The Archetypal Mentor
http://krishna.org/krishna-
the-archetypal-mentor
The mentoring relationship is one that has become the subject of many
business myths. Differences in mentoring styles are galore and there is no
one mentoring style that is suited for all occasions. It is essential therefore
to first understand what is mentoring and then see the different facets of
mentoring in a mentoring relationship. Mentoring, is the process by which
people help a protege to promote the protege’s personal and professional
growth for organisational success. Mentoring is routinely seen as
manifesting soft skills such as the classical virtues of kindness and
generosity. The fact that it can also be harsh seems to escape the mind of
most theorists. Therefore an account of a real mentoring relationship, one
that is widely recognised and one in which various mentoring styles are
manifested, becomes necessary.
In the Indian context the most successful mentoring relationship is the one
between Krishna and Arjuna. Religious preachings and the fantastic
mythical details have made it difficult to analyse this relationship and
separate fact from fiction. The famous depth psychologist, Carl Jung held
the opinion that myths were a guide that enabled a person journey to
wholeness. The fantastic details encountered in myths had to be sifted
through to get to the core message. Using this perspective we
can strip away the divinity associated with Krishna so that we
get a picture of the real Krishna and his relationship with
Arjuna.
3. Y#50 May 1, 2016
Window for action loving
PROFESSIONALS
3
The choice of Krishna as the ideal
mentor is due to the fact that
Krishna performed multiple roles
and had numerous mentoring
styles. He was leader, manager,
negotiator, manipulator,
motivator, influencer, all rolled
into one. An account of his
mentorship would therefore
enable us see the diverse styles of
mentoring that are needed for
diverse situations.
Arjuna was the individual on whose shoulders the morale of Pandavas
rested. His well being heralded victory and he was symbolic of Pandava
valour & glory. He was proud of his achievements, but he was also very
vain and sensitive to other people’s opinion of him. He had varied needs
as an individual. Krishna saw the needs as well as the potential of his
young friend and built a successful mentoring relationship. As the
account of not just the war but the entire Pandava saga shows, Krishna’s
help would enable Arjuna to surmount obstacles and achieve success
personally as well as professionally i.e in his duties as a warrior and a
prince.
What lessons of mentoring may be learned from their relationship? How
was he able to provide support and guidance to an individual whose
needs were so diverse and so intense?
Show support in word and deed - Building trust
Krishna proclaimed his love for Arjuna publicly and made it clear
that he attached the highest importance to his friendship with
Arjuna. They spent much time together and Krishna took every
opportunity to demonstrate his affection for Arjuna. One of the
best examples of this is found in the incident of the burning of the
khandav forest . To please Agni, Krishna and Arjuna fought Indra
and the devas and defeated them. Pleased with their valour, Indra
offered boons to both of them. While Arjuna asked for weapons,
Krishna asked that his friendship with Arjuna continue forever.
The mythical dimensions of this story notwithstanding, it makes
Krishna’s fondness for Arjuna very clear. The basis of mentorship
lies in being publicly supportive and standing by your protege.
The first step to mentoring is building trust.
4. Y#50 May 1, 2016
Window for action loving
PROFESSIONALS
4
Constant support without interference-
Building self confidence
Krishna was always supportive of Arjuna but he never
interfered in Arjuna’s life. He confined his role to
providing advice. At no point do we see Krishna
commanding Arjuna to take decisions or actions
chosen by him. Arjuna had a fragile psyche and he
would not have tolerated anyone telling him what to
do. Furthermore, it was necessary that Arjuna build
confidence in himself. Then only would he be able to
take his own decisions. Thus, not only did Krishna not
interfere, but he saw to it that Arjuna did not unduly
depend upon him-a constant danger in a mentoring
relationship.
A relationship of fun and cheer- Building
openness and warmth
Krishna’s relationship with Arjuna was
not a grim one. Krishna’s penchant for
pranks is well known and that ensured
that the relationship would have been a
warm one with a laughter and cheer.
Arjuna with his multiple roles and
responsibilities took himself too
seriously leading to outbursts and
displays of temper. A lighthearted
relationship ensured that Arjuna was
able to view his own actions more
objectively. Krishna also ensured that
stress was reduced and Arjuna was able
to feel confident about Krishna’s interest
in him. A mentor usually has the mentee
in awe of him. Unless mentors show
themselves to be comrades, it is
impossible for the mentees to open up
to them.
.
5. Y#50 May 1, 2016
Window for action loving
PROFESSIONALS
5
Provide criticism without denigrating the
protégé - Have a non-judgemental
attitude
Krishna criticised Arjuna’s decisions openly but never
denigrated or insulted him. Krishna focused on the
issues involved without being judgemental. He did not
engage in personal humiliation of Arjuna. Arjuna
therefore knew that Krishna would provide him with
sound advice and not be swayed by the fear of
negatively affecting their relationship.
Support protege in difficult
tasks despite reservations -
Give unconditional support
Krishna often criticised Arjuna for
wrong decisions but he never left
Arjuna to fend for himself and reap
the consequences of those decisions.
When Abhimanyu was killed and
Arjuna took a vow that he would
either kill Jayadrath by the evening or
commit suicide, Krishna was very
critical but put heart and soul into
assisting Arjuna to achieve his goal.
Thus, standing by your protege
against all odds even your own
disagreement with his decision helps
build the mentor-mentee relationship.
6. Y#50 May 1, 2016
Window for action loving
PROFESSIONALS
6
Help protege to make decisions in times
of personal crisis - Personal counselling
Krishna was friend cum counselor to Arjuna and took
the time out to help resolve Arjuna’s personal distress.
When Arjuna faced a moral crisis in fighting his
relatives, Krishna came to the rescue by propounding
the philosophy enshrined in the Gita. He did not resort
to a simplistic command tactic, but made the effort to
resolve Arjuna’s moral distress to the best of his ability.
Search for ways to enable the protege
become aware of his limitations -
Encourage self awareness
There are tales of Krishna destroying Arjuna’s vanity.
This was never done openly. The tales talk of tests in
which he was destined to fail. At the last moment
when a dejected Arjuna would be lonely and
depressed and thinking of committing suicide, Krishna
would appear and tell him the reason for these tests.
These tests were related to Arjuna’s overblown pride in
his prowess as an archer. Following these tests, a
chastened Arjuna vanquished his vanity and worked
towards setting higher standards and viewing failure
with maturity.
These are seven cardinal principles that can enable a successful
mentoring relationship. Techniques and tactics for putting these into
effect may differ, but as Stephen Covey puts it, it is important to be
clear about principles.
The question then arises as to whether the same relationship can be
built today. This is possible if one makes it a personal goal to be a
complete mentor and emulate the multiple styles of Krishna. The
other means is to select a role that one is comfortable with & can
excel in and provide mentoring support to those that need it. That
choice is ours.
7. Y#50 May 1, 2016
Window for action loving
PROFESSIONALS
7
M Meet often Meet often M
E
Explore
expectations
clearly
Ensure
expectations are
met
E
N
Nurture
relationship; be
diligent
Navigate the
road ahead; keep
the long distance
view
N
T
Transfer learning
into actions
Tolerate lapses,
correct the
course
T
E
Elicit
consistently; dig
more out of
interactions; go
prepared
Out grow
dependence;
help the mentee
be on his/her
own
O
E
Express
gratitude;
Evaluate own
performance and
the relationship
regularly
Rejuvenate
relationship;
enthuse mentee
R
MENTEE – MENTOR
RELATIONSHIP
- Intellectual property: Rajiv Khurana
8. Y#50 May 1, 2016
Window for action loving
PROFESSIONALS
8
You need a saint or a guru to be a mentor
Gone are the days of mentees sitting at the feet of the
wise one; you never know who might be a powerful
learning influence
Mentoring only happens on a one-to-one, long-term,
face-to-face basis
With modern technology mentoring can take place by
e-mail, telephone, or social media and may only need
a few hours
Taking time to mentor decreases productivity
Mentoring improves productivity through better
communication, goal clarity, increased commitment,
and succession planning
A mentor needs to be 5-10 years older than the person
he/she mentors
Innovations happen so rapidly or personal experience
is such a great teacher that younger people often have
opportunities to mentor older workers; peers are
often effective mentors
Mentoring is a rare experience and only occurs for a
few great people
Informal mentoring is probably the most frequent
method of transmitting knowledge and wisdom in
society; virtually everyone has experienced it
Mentoring requires a greater time commitment than
most workers can afford
Being mentored or being a mentor does not guarantee
career advancement, but it does significantly increase
on-the-job learning, accelerating career opportunities.
Corporations do not have time for mentorship because
they are too busy reorganizing, restructuring,
downsizing, rightsizing and surviving
The changing economy and globalization place great
strains on time, but a focus on learning increases
stability, change management, and financial growth
9. Y#50 May 1, 2016
Window for action loving
PROFESSIONALS
9
“Remember
that mentor
leadership is
all about
serving. Jesus
said, “For even
the Son of
Man came not
to be served
but to serve
others and to
give his life as
a ransom for
many” (Mark
10:45).”
― Tony Dungy
“True education does not consist
merely in the acquiring of a few facts
of science, history, literature, or art,
but in the development of
character.”
― David O. McKay
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I
may remember, involve me and I
learn.”
― Benjamin Franklin
“Spoon feeding in the long run
teaches us nothing but the shape of
the spoon.”
― E.M. Forster
“Children must be taught how to
think, not what to think.”
― Margaret Mead
“In learning you will teach, and in
teaching you will learn.”
― Phil Collins
10. Y#50 May 1, 2016
Window for action loving
PROFESSIONALS
10
Shuklapaksh, April 1-15, 2016
12. Y#50 May 1, 2016
Window for action loving
PROFESSIONALS
Family
Business
Mentoring
Mentoring YES
– Young
Entrepreneurs
for Success
Career
Mentoring
9810211256, 9013698960
rajiv@rajivkhurana.com
http://in.linkedin.com/in/rajivkhurana
13. Y#50 May 1, 2016
Window for action loving
PROFESSIONALS
Family business
Mentoring
by
Rajiv
Khurana
International
Management
Consultant & Trainer,
Venture Mentor,
Executive Coach,
Social Entrepreneur,
Well published
writer…
Family ventures in India serve as the backbone of
the economy. Name any field of business or social
initiative, and families in India would have played a
pivotal role.
Family businesses have their own unique style and
culture which keep evolving over the time. Market
opportunities have been expanding globally;
technology has been helping in the need and speed
of delivery and the social and family milieu has
created new dimensions in control and decision-
making power-centres, besides the newer
generation aspiring for new avenues or seeking a
higher and faster stake in the enterprise.
Complexities have been rising and so has the
commitment to succeed.
Globally, businesses are seeking professional
MENTORS for advice, strength and support. In
India, highly aware families have followed suit.
Some are gearing up, while a large number still live
in the comfortable bliss of ignorance.
You too can easily reach out to a MENTOR
if you identify your family business with any of
these illustrative needs:
1/3
14. Y#50 May 1, 2016
Window for action loving
PROFESSIONALS
Family business
Mentoring
by
Rajiv
Khurana You want your business to move
into a new orbit of expansion and
excellence
You are bored with a nominal
arithmetic progression of growth
and wish to transform to a
dynamic, geometric progression
You are facing some immediate
issues and need a fresh,
independent perspective
You need a fresh look at your
vision, mission, values and goals
You want your business to raise its
standards and performance bar
You desire a rational alignment of
all family members and senior
executives vis-à-vis your goals and
overall direction.
You desire to identify and/or
strengthen your competitive edge
You wish to strengthen the work
culture and change the customer
and people-outlook of your
business
You need a sounding board for
your ideas
You wish someone could
challenge your assumptions and
preparedness
You need support to refine the
Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes and
Work Habits within the family and
senior employees
2/3
15. Y#50 May 1, 2016
Window for action loving
PROFESSIONALS
Family business
Mentoring
by
Rajiv
Khurana
You need help in the right
induction of family
youngsters
You need support for the
grooming and mentoring of
family youngsters to refine
their experience and skills as
they get ready for
responsible leadership roles
You wish to create a
smoother business
succession plan for the next
generation to take over
You need help in conciliation,
reduction or resolution of
cross-generation friction
You want to improve the
leadership and managerial
abilities of the family and the
team
You desire a good blending
with your partners and all
other stakeholders
You need more time for
yourself and desire to
decentralize and move into
an advisory role
You dream to be known as an
institution builder instead of
remaining a business
sustainer
Your choice could be any or
many of the above.
Professional MENTORING can
help your business achieve
your aspirations.
Let’s talk it out.
Fix an appointment for a
no-commitment dialogue with
RAJIV KHURANA at our office.
9810211256, 9013698960
rajiv@rajivkhurana.com
http://in.linkedin.com/in/rajivkhurana 3/3
16. Y#50 May 1, 2016
Window for action loving
PROFESSIONALS
MENTORING
Young
Entrepreneurs
Success
YES
for
Imagine Sachin Tendulkar or Virat Kohli
without a Coach or a Mentor! Parents,
friends and well meaning relatives could
not have put them on the right path for
pursuing greatness.
We all need a coach, a mentor, a guide, a
facilitator, a reflector, a listener, a
professional friend or an advisor.
The earlier the better!
Make sure that the person is competent
and accomplished to help you succeed in
personal and professional situations. Your
well mentored moves can ease your
pursuits through cumbersome challenges
of clarity and the complex maze of
competence, commitment and creative
results.
Get set to
• Cultivate your skills for a stronger
personality and leadership in your
entrepreneurial journey.
• Strengthen your functional and
process proficiency.
• Dream Bigger. Achieve Higher.
Mentoring by Rajiv Khurana is customized
to your personal needs and time flexibility.
Fix your appointment for a 30 minute no-
commitment dialogue at our office.
9810211256, 9013698960
rajiv@rajivkhurana.com
http://in.linkedin.com/in/rajivkhurana
For Young
Entrepreneurs:
New in business
Starting a new
business
Settling into their
family business
Wanting to do better
in business
International
Management
Consultant & Trainer,
Venture Mentor,
Executive Coach,
Social Entrepreneur,
Well published
writer…