Can you name that one special individual youve encountered in your life that has elevated you in your professional life? Some of you reading this article may remember when you became an apprentice in a shop to learn from the owner. Others may recall the more recent incarnation of the term intern.
Each of us should have a person in mind that gave us the confidence and skills needed to be a team player. Many of these individuals poured out part of their lives in helping launch our careers professionally or we may have simply been a good student content to be an observer.
These individuals may best be referred to as mentors. They facilitated growth while helping to wear off our rough edges with the wisdom they learned over the years. Many of the best mentors know when to offer advice and when to let us learn for ourselves.
Imagine a father lifting his son onto his shoulders so he can see above the crowd if only for a brief moment. The son sees more than he ever could by watching the boots and hats from his boy-sized vantage point. That boy will always remember the feeling of being on top of the world.
This is the picture of a team leader in the process...