Book review: Shift Makers by Bart Van der Herten

📖 Over the weekend, I started reading the recent book Shift Makers by Bart Van der Herten.

In chapter 3, Bart describes the difference between fixed and growth mindsets.

📈 In line with the Ambits values, we expect our mentors to have a growth mindset.

💡 BUT: our clients and mentees should also have a growth mindset to make mentoring work.

As Bart writes, if you look at learning & development with a fixed mindset, leadership support through mentoring will
👿 only be used for ‘problem cases’;
👿 be perceived by the mentee as a sanction;
👿 make the mentee feel ashamed, or worse, humiliated;
👿 not motivate the mentee to be fully open & transparent to his mentor.

I think it’s clear that this can never be effective.

Therefore, in line with Bart’s arguments in his book, I recommend considering learning & development with a growth mindset. Only then will mentoring
😃 be seen by the mentee as a way to learn, grow and become better;
😃 motivate the mentee to take up new challenges;
😃 not be seen as a failure;
😃 take place in a climate of complete confidence.