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Welcome to the Tuesday Trailblazer, my weekly newsletter delivering actionable advice from my personal experiences as a people and business leader.

Blaze it up today by learning:

• How a good mentor impacted my career… and my life.

• 3 common mistakes leaders make as mentors

• 9 Priorities of a top mentor

• BONUS: My Leadership Cheat Sheets - the keys to unlock them are at the bottom of this email!

Quote Of The Week:

You aren’t just handed a mentor in the workplace.
In fact, they are extremely rare.

Forbes reported this year that 76% of leaders believe that mentors are important, however only 37% of people those have one.

In my early days as a leader, I was one of the 73% without one.
At that point, I would have passionately declined one.

You see back then I was delusional, selfish and had a massive ego…

I didn’t need no mentor.

If you’re new here and aren’t aware of my story, I had a knack of working 65+ hour weeks consistently.

Leadership for me during that time looked like this;

• I placed value in how “busy” I was.

• I prioritised work over EVERYTHING.

• I bragged about being buried in my work.

• I allowed busy to become an excuse, a barrier.

Ultimately, the busier I was, the more valuable I felt.

Things needed to change. I needed help.

In 2016, I had a mentor come into my life.
Someone who acknowledged my challenges and pulled me up on them.

Not in an arrogant way, but in a way that indicated a sense of care.
He redefined success for me, not in his words but his own actions.

I’ll never forget this quote/message he gave me.

Here’s the Scoop:

Pre 2016, I wasn’t a mentor.
I was a boss.

Post 2016, that all changed.

I adapted my leadership faster than Luke Covell running down the wing and I started to see meaningful impact.

Impact on myself, my team, my work and most importantly my home.

My love for leadership had been reignited and I got back to playing cricket, I got baptised as a Christian, and started a family.

The intervention of a mentor when I needed it most, changed my life… for the better.

So today, I want to help you the same way my mentor helped me.

Where most leaders fail

3 common areas I see leaders fall short when it comes to prioritising their role as a mentor;

1. They forget their early struggles and often become unreachable, forgetting that mentorship is a two-way street. They might give feedback, but not encouragement; instructions, but not inspiration.
   

2. They prioritise strategy sessions or conference meetings and not the quieter moments—missing the chance to guide, to encourage, and to inspire the upcoming trailblazers
   

3. They get caught up in the rush of tasks and targets. They miss the forest for the trees—focusing on outcomes at the expense of building relationships and investing in their team’s growth.

As leaders, prioritising a culture of mentorship and support is crucial if you're wanting to build a team that's engaged, resilient, and ready to rise to any challenge. Because, let’s face it - the challenges come thick and fast!

Ultimately as a mentor, you’re crafting a legacy of trust, growth, and empowerment.
For you, your team and your business.

So how do we turn the tide?

9 Priorities Of A Top Mentor

How to be the person you needed as a new leader;

➜ Provide Safe, Constructive Feedback
Why It Matters: Feedback is a foundational element of development.

What to Do: Offer feedback that is specific, timely, and actionable. Ensure it is delivered in a way that is constructive and supportive, not critical or demeaning.

➜ Provide Tailored Guidance
Why It Matters: Each team member is unique, with distinct strengths and weaknesses.

What to Do: Customize your advice and the challenges you provide based on the individual’s needs and career aspirations.

➜ Encourage Self-Reflection
Why It Matters: Self-awareness is key to personal and professional growth.

What to Do: Prompt your mentees to reflect on their experiences and the lessons learned. Encourage them to set personal benchmarks for improvement.

➜ Promote a Growth Mindset
Why It Matters: A growth mindset fosters resilience and a love for learning amidst challenges.

What to Do: Reinforce the value of persistence and continuous learning. Celebrate efforts as much as results.

➜ Foster Independence
Why It Matters: The ultimate goal of mentorship is to help others stand on their own with confidence.

What to Do: Encourage decision-making and problem-solving without immediate intervention. Guide them in finding solutions rather than providing them outright.

➜ Challenge Them Appropriately
Why It Matters: People grow most when challenged just outside their comfort zone.

What to Do: Set tasks that stretch their abilities and help them rise to the occasion. Adjust challenges as they develop to keep them engaged and growing.

➜ Share Resources and Networks
Why It Matters: Access to broader networks and resources can accelerate growth.

What to Do: Introduce them to your network and share relevant articles, books, seminars, and other resources.

➜ Model Integrity and Accountability
Why It Matters: Leaders are watched and emulated.

What to Do: Act with honesty and responsibility. Show that you hold yourself to the same standards expected of them.

➜ Empathy and Patience
Why It Matters: Understanding and relating to the challenges your team faces are crucial.

What to Do: Show genuine concern for their issues and frustrations. Offer support and patience as they navigate their learning curves.

Leadership Cheat Sheets

Proud to share with you my leadership cheat sheets.
Gain lifetime access to my pdf leadership cheat sheets by clicking here.

In Conclusion:

Be the leader you needed when you were a junior.
It’s a powerful way to frame your leadership journey.

Remember, we’re not just handed a mentor in the workplace.
In fact, they are extremely rare.

Until next week Trailblazers!

Howard

I have built and led teams across 3 successful businesses and have over 15 years of people and business leadership experience.

Over the past 4 years, I have grown my business working with “busy” leaders across multiple companies helping them igniting their impact and leadership both at work and at home.

Without abandoning their ambition.

Let me share my insights and help you:

• Reclaim your time

• Prioritise your wellbeing

• Achieve work/life harmony

• Improve customer centricity

• Connect & elevate team culture

• Develop beyond busy leadership skills

• Build your business bench and succession planning

Book A 45 minute “Beyond Busy Mentor” Meeting Here

Download today’s PDF here

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