Mentoring, like every other job, requires tools to be more effective. One of these tools is the GROW model. Created in the 1980s by Graham Alexander, Alan Fine, and Sir John Whitmore, the GROW model provides structure around the process for achieving concrete goals.
Mentors can use these touch-points to ask appropriate questions and assist the mentee to reach their expected endpoint. Goal Goal answers the question "What do you want?" This is the endpoint the mentee is trying to achieve. A goal should be SMART - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound. Articulating the goal clearly makes it much easier to identify when it has been reached. Example questions:
Reality Define current reality with the question "Where are you right now?" This gives a basic lay-of-the-land of the mentee's current situation. Example questions:
Options and Obstacles Brainstorm with the mentee about possible methods to reach the goal. This asks "What can you do?" Example questions:
At this stage you may encounter negative responses which limit the mentee's ability to imagine solutions. Using "what if..." questions to imagine paths without specific obstacles can help show alternate routes to the goal. Way Forward Having worked through your options, now is a time to set a concrete path. "What will you do?" Example questions:
AuthorKristine Sihto is Senior Editor and Communications Manager for CCM. In the past, she has written on a broad range of subjects, but she only found her tribe when she moved into Information Security. Kristine feels deep regret at adding yet more acronyms to the beleaguered minds of her InfoSec compatriots.
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In my opinion, the only way to conquer stage fright is to get up on stage and play. Every time you play another show, it gets better and better - Taylor Swift Public speaking. These two words fill hearts with dread. There are a lot of roles in information security that require you to speak, whether it's through sales and marketing, in meetings, giving training, reporting to clients, or formally at one of the thousands of industry conferences or events that are held every year. It's daunting, but there are strategies you can employ to make that fear a little less overwhelming. 1. Know your material This seems a little basic, but if you know enough about your subject matter to explain it clearly face-to-face in an ordinary conversation, you know how to explain it to a crowd. This is because public speaking is just speaking. 2. Don't sweat the small stuff Fumbled that line? That's fine. Stuttered a little? Nobody minds. In fact, it's possible that nobody noticed. You don't need to stop or apologise - just keep going. 3. Have a clear outline If you're ad libbing some or all of your talk, it can be easy to ramble. Knowing what direction your talk should be going in will help you to stay on message. 4. Practice Practicing by yourself gives you an edge. It means that on the day of your speaking engagement, you're not giving your presentation for the first time. Practicing in front of another person gives you even more of an edge, because you can get feedback before standing in front of a larger audience. Going through your presentation out loud will give you an idea of how long you will be speaking for and whether there are any sections that may trip you up. In particular, it's important to practice your opening and closing, as these are the spots that are most likely to let you down. 5. Have a prop This can be as simple as notes or a bottle of water. It's common to not know what to do with your hands in front of an audience, but giving them something to hold can fix that issue. Added benefits to a bottle of water are that you have something to sip if your throat gets too dry, and if you need a few seconds to compose your thoughts, it makes natural-looking reason to turn away from the audience. 6. One step at a time Remember at the top of this article where I said there were thousands of industry events every year? They're not all big audiences. Local meetups are a great place to start, and they usually have smaller audiences. They also have the benefit of familiar audiences, so you know you've got a supportive cohort. 7. Speak often The adrenaline surge that accompanies public speaking never goes away, but the more often you speak publicly, the easier it gets to manage that feeling, and the more confident you will be when you're in the spotlight. AuthorKristine Sihto is Senior Editor and Communications Manager for CCM. Her experiences with public speaking range from speaking and singing roles in community theatre, formal debating, training, presenting at conferences, and occasional bouts of karaoke. She still gets scared every time she speaks. We are proud to announce the official launch of Cyber Century Mentoring (CCM). This is a volunteer organisation, founded by our directors, Amanda-Jane Turner and Lana Tosic, and our communications manager and blog editor, Kristine Sihto, which seeks to connect mentees who are new to the Information Security industry with appropriate mentors to guide them on their journey. Along the way we will provide supporting resources for both the mentor and the mentee. About the Mentor/Mentee relationship Mentoring is:
How can you get involved? We cannot do this without you. To succeed in our mission, we require mentors, mentees, as well as a regular flow of resources for our blog. If you are interested in being a mentor: Please contact us here and tell us in the comment box that you'd like to be a mentor. We will then contact you via the email you provide so that we can gain more information about the types of mentees that you will be the most assistance to. If you are interested in being a mentee: Please contact us here and tell us in the comment box that you'd like to be a mentee. We will then contact you via the email that you provide so that we can gain more information about your goals and future career path. This will enable us to match you to an appropriate mentor. If you would like to write for this blog: Please reach out and let us know what you'd like to write about. This blog aims to provide resources that will help mentors and mentees. Our editor will contact you for more information via the email you provide. AuthorKristine Sihto is Senior Editor and Communications Manager for CCM. In the past, she has written on a broad range of subjects, but she only found her tribe when she moved into Information Security. Her self-imposed mission is to support the Information Security community through leveraging her extensive creative skills: through the written word, artwork, and the occasional sewing project. |