Some Mentoring Lessons for Consultants
by Michael Jemphrey, Anthropology & Translation Consultant
Image by Leremy Gan, Free for Canva Teams
Imagine this: Moses, the revered leader of the Israelites, receiving sage advice on management from an unexpected source—his father-in-law, Jethro, a priest, a faith leader from Midian!! In Exodus 18:17-23, Jethro finds Moses and God’s people exhausted by Moses’ well-intentioned efforts to help resolve each and every dispute. He then gives his son-in-law a crash course in effective leadership. What did that entail for Moses and what can we learn? Moses had to learn to look at others around him carefully and discern whom he could trust. He had to teach the law to these people. He would have had to trust people’s recommendations in appointing the leaders for the smaller groups of 50’s and 10’s.
Jethro’s counsel highlights the essence of leadership: understand one’s role, delegate authority, invest in mentorship, empower teamwork, and foster growth. Moses had to relinquish micro-management, and trust his team’s judgment.
Empowerment is Key
Giving people authority to decide is important and teaching them and trusting them to decide what they can (ex. which weightier matters to refer up the line).
Micromanagement Misery
Micro-managing stifles creativity and hampers progress. Resist the urge to control every detail, instead focusing on overarching goals and providing support where needed.
Continuous Growth
Just as leaders of tens could presumably become leaders of fifties and fifties become leaders of hundreds, avenues for testing and growth and advancement are important. We should be looking to encourage newly qualified consultants to get ongoing development opportunities.
Mentorship Matters
Mentoring programs offer invaluable guidance and support on the journey towards excellence.
Teamwork Triumphs
it is the backbone of success. People thrive in collaborative environments. Consultants must trust their team’s expertise and judgment and ensure there are controls in place to ensure accountability – but realize it is not humanly possible to exercise all those controls themselves!!
As we reflect on Jethro’s advice, let’s remember to periodically take our gaze off the detailed problems confronting us and consider the wider picture. Consultants who embrace collaboration and empower others will leave a lasting impact on their organizations and on their partners and on the peoples they all serve.
Here are some powerful questions to ask yourself and your mentees:
- How else could this work be done ?
- Who else could do this job?
- How could I encourage them to get involved?
- Who all could these new people learn from?
Share your ideas and insights below by clicking on “Comment”.
Thank you Michael for the reminder that we need to keep looking for ways to include and build others up and into roles. Mentoring is a great way to do that. Stacey