A new intern joined our team yesterday. It was interesting to watch his appearance and first interactions with the team. He was on time. More accurately said, he was early! He was polite to the point that there was an obvious linked to nervousness and caution. His desire to get it right was obvious and admirable. In his early actions, I could see three reminders I want to take with me today.
First, find your mentor. If you do not have one, slow down, pause, and seek what you know is missing. In this case, once the newbie connected with his mentor, the scene instantly changed. Cautious politeness was replaced with an excited smile. A body stance of deference was replaced with an energetic, standing tall model of confidence. Mentors make a difference.
Second, listen and act on what the mentor says. In this case, it was as if the intern was listening to his inner voice; “That’s right – you don’t go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set.” (Psalm 119.3) It was fun to watch! Introductions, insights, and the first tentative steps. By lunch time, he was functioning as if he had been with the groups for months or even years.
Third, acknowledge and appreciate what the mentor gives you. As I watched the process unfold, I could feel the energy rising! It was amazing. The simple act of being thank-you was received as if it was a shot of adrenalin. The mentor’s body language told everyone that he was kicking things up a notch. The positive flow between then washed over everyone nearby. We were all smiling.
There will be challenges in the days to come. There is a lot of work to be done with more questions than answers. For the intern, it is a great opportunity to show the team what he is capable of. To the intern, I wish I had captured the opening scenes on video so he would have something to go back to. My hope is that he reflects often and remembers.
