A crash course in changing the world.
NEWSKILL: Mentoring: An UnOfficial Guide
Okay this is not coming as an "official" EVOKE Mentor. Because to be honest, I haven't figured out how to navigate that. Instead this is my own thoughts on how we can help each other be the best "players" and therefore change agents that we can be. [And I need to thank Elastica for helping plant this idea in my head].
Between Missions and Quests? Need a break from planning or researching? Here's how you can empower others to be the best they can be:
(1) Read, read, read other submitted evidence.
I usually just start from what's most recently posted and work my way back.
(2) Read kindly, with an eye to finding the value in whatever the person has submitted.
Many folks are just throwing up a sentence or two -- sort of doing the minimum to complete the mission. Rather than dismissing these folks, I am leaving a comment that welcomes them and asks them specific questions to get them to expand upon their submission. [for example: why did you choose this person to shadow? Why did you find this lesson so inspiring?]
If you feel you can't award a point yet, by leaving a comment, you will be notified when they add a comment and then you can re-read their submission and see if you are inspired to leave a point after they've elaborated.
(3) Check to see if they have any power points at all on their evidence.
If they don't, remind them that they can award themselves one! [thanks Elastica for this and the following tip!]
(4) Check to see if they have tagged their submission with useful, relevant, common tags. Encourage them to do so that others can find their work.
(5) Encourage them to add hyperlinks to their submission so that others can learn more.
Yes, people can google -- but why not have the person writing the submission make their post as useful as possible to others reading it? Encourage them to maximize the educational value of their work by making it easy for others to learn more and take action.
(6) Make introductions between people.
Are you reading something that reminds you of something that someone else read? Leave a comment with a link to that friend or their evidence post so that people with similar interests, passions, visions can find each other. Which leads me to:
(7) Err on the side of too many friends.
I can't think of a good reason not to friend folks here. It makes it easier to keep track of them, and you never know where each connection may lead you.
(6) Make it easy on yourself to do this.
Here are some things I've been doing to make this easier for myself:
- I have a browser window open to the powers [because I constantly need reminding exactly the difference between "spark" and "vision" for example.
- I have a browser window open to my friends list, sorted alphabetically, so it's easy to "copy link" to a particular friend's page when I want to "introduce" someone to someone else via a comment or message.
- I have a .txt file open with common sentences and comments I find myself leaving so that I can cut and paste instead of retyping. [For example: "Also - don't forget that you can give yourself a power point for each piece of evidence you submit."
Any other tips you think I should include?
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Comment by Sara Wickenberg on March 10, 2010 at 6:43pm -
Thanks! I totally agree with this collaborative support focusing on feedback as a way to help people improve.
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Comment by Elastika on March 10, 2010 at 7:06pm -
Great Ayala! Thank you for this structure. I think this unofficial guide is as official guide should be :)
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Comment by Fleep Tuque on March 10, 2010 at 7:08pm
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Excellent tips, thanks!
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Comment by Nick Heyming on March 10, 2010 at 7:14pm -
Great tips, I'd also say that when you make a new friend on here, don't just add them, read what they've posted first and comment on it! Really good points you make though, +1 local insight ;)
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Comment by Patricio Buenrostro-Gilhuys on March 10, 2010 at 7:25pm -
Great guide!
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Comment by Vaare Valentino on March 10, 2010 at 8:00pm -
Some very good tips indeed. Thanks for this.
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Comment by Wasserperson on March 11, 2010 at 2:18am -
Great tips--maybe the reason I'm frustrated over how confusing some of the features and layouts are, is that we're meant to come up with these ideas/how-to's for ourselves?
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Comment by Ithamar Samuel Eshpar on March 11, 2010 at 1:14pm -
Some great tips, Ayala, thanks! I wish I could spend enough time in these pages to use all of them.
Unfortunately this is very time consuming for a hard working chap like me... I guess I'll just have to keep up as best as I can /-:
My favorite tip from the evoke team was "take your time" (-;
You still get my +1 spark
db <--(two thumbs up)
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Comment by Robert Hawkins on March 11, 2010 at 1:21pm -
Great post with thoughtful tips!
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Comment by Nathaniel Fruchter on March 17, 2010 at 1:47am -
This is a wonderful resource! You've got a mention in the latest EVOKE blog post. Plus, Alchemy has awarded you +5 resourcefulness, knowledge, and spark. Thank you for this post!
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