The Paradoxical Commandments

January 29, 2008

The Mentorship Approach With Teams & Groups

Around the spring of 1993 I started having two careers. I maintained a part-time therapy practice, and I became co-owner of a child development center with my mother. My responsibilities early on were training and supervising staff specifically on ways to work well with children. Over time I agreed to take responsibility for directly supervising some of the staff on all areas of job performance. I was over my head!

But any new supervisor is, to some degree. I knew how to train and guide and evaluate our staff on their work directly with children, but the rest was challenging. What do you do when an employee comes in late or misses work nearly every Monday after payday?

I had to dig into my values and overall vision for the business to help me navigate some of these challenges. Fortunately for me, I came across a magazine that had Kent Keith’s Paradoxical Commandments of Leadership. I made a photocopy and held on to it. Eventually I framed the photocopy and hung it over my desk.

I didn’t follow them perfectly, and sometimes I’m sure I went for weeks without adhering to a single one. After all, I’m not nice!

But I believe the values expressed in the Commandments. They speak to character and connectedness. They speak to a higher purpose.

This year, The Mentorship Approach With Teams & Groups will go through the Commandments one at a time. I want to talk about ways I’ve used them, ways I failed to use them, and ways they will make your experience as a trainer, supervisor, boss, team leader, committee chair—any role of Mentor—more meaningful.

Posted in The Mentorship Approach With Teams & Groups, Zine 4: January 2008