All the world is a stage...

... and we are but players on it" 

- W. Shakespeare 

(Yes, I know I should look it up and reference it properly but you get the idea so let's keep it between us ok?!)

The stage, a training room filled with tables, chairs and post it notes galore. The players, a collection of new and continuing Student Mentors who have pulled themselves out of summer hibernation. Throw in some lighting effects (damn those complicated switches), some action (including throwing a rubber pig at each other) and a large amount of music (can't beat karaoke for a social night) and you have the perfect ingredients for Mentor Training 2012.

Lets do the Time Warp

How many mentors fit on a sheet of A4?

What a fab
5 days they were! 

We explored 

values, networks, personality types, brand awareness, team building, project building, lego, pigs, juggling, affirmations, 

e-portfolios, goal setting and personal development. 

For me the most rewarding part was watching the physical and emotional changes in people as they went through the week and to see new connections and friendships being formed. What was mind blowing and humbling was the support for each other and the sense that here is a group of people rooting for each individual in that room to succeed in whatever they set their mind to. 

Topping the week off with my own graduation too, woah! What an emotional roller coaster I had, but what a rush!!

Me and my hubby 

Four heads are better than One

Armed with a notebook and pen I took myself off, on my tod, to the refectory to come up with some creative ideas of stuff (what? that's a technical term!) to do in the scheme that would raise awareness of key issues, encourage discussions and link into university initiatives......... Who am I kidding??? My office was being used for an external meeting and I hate working from someone else's desk so off I went!

The Challenge

To come up with something fun to do to raise profile and funds as part of breast cancer awareness and Movember.

The Result

Wow! Within half an hour I'd been joined by three mentors and the ideas were in full flow. From naked calendars to cookbooks to rubber duck races and super heroes! Bam, bam, bam, and another one, and another one! In truth we have enough stuff (seriously, it's a technical word!) to keep us busy for months and what's more, we're all really excited to get started :)

So what's my point? Well if I have to have one, and sometimes random waffle is perfectly acceptable I think, my point is that getting out of the office, sitting with people and actually talking face to face can generate some amazing results. My other point is that I have been reminded, once again, of what a creative, open minded and down right bonkers bunch of people I am lucky enough to work with and that makes me smile.

See, proof that its a 'technical term!'

Follow our Movember Team here 

I'm sorry, what? July?? Already??? Oh heck!!

The sun has got his hat on... and legged it off to far and fantastical lands!!

Ergo, instead of  lounging out on the lawn catching a few rays and networking, I have been forced to focus and be practically productive instead. If I'm honest, not as much obvious fun and ice-cream involved but definitely a sense of achievement when you see those to-do's becoming to-done's (sneaky pat-on-the-back to self, hey if you don't pat your own back who else is going to do it for you?). So, although I hate to say it,  a few good days (nay, weeks) of rain has been very helpful for my planning and attempts at being organised.

Yes, yes that's all very good Bellamy, but what exactly have you been up to and how is it likely to interest us? Well, it probably won't interest you at all but just for giggles I'll share ...

.... updates to departments given, online resources developed, training sessions organised, new campaigns imagined, collaborations discussed, new skills acquired, professional boundaries challenged, diplomacy tested, to-do list shortened, celebratory moments enjoyed ... Pretty good eh?

Highlights of my week?

• Catching up with Mentors at the departmental away day and seeing them get right into the thick of it, sharing ideas for a new promotional video. Just love it when people throw off their "staff" or "student" label and just get in there and work together, it brings a real energy to the whole thing, I think.

• Becoming more self aware and appreciative of my own central belief system as a result of finding myself in a personally challenging situation. Boy, you can really learn a lot about yourself if you listen to your inner voice and give yourself permission to say how you feel.

So what's in store for the rest of this month? Well....lots, if I'm honest! So don't tune out yet... Hello?... helloooooo?

Time out to develop your craft

For me, this week seems to have heavily featured frantically running but getting no where fast. My to-do list is rapidly becoming a to-do novel and, as much as I like a good read, I am sad to say that the ever filling pages of my trusty note book (no I've not quiet fully embraced the digital world yet) are no work of fiction and do unfortunately require my attention and action over the coming weeks.


During a series of frantic email exchanges, chasing paperwork gremlins and listening into live streams of conference presentations it occurred to me that I may be in danger of stepping onto the slippery slope sign posted "Running just to keep up!"  So I stopped and took a moment to ask myself the potentially heart sinking question..."What have I actually achieved this week?"


Now, I am not about to go off on a million mile moan monologue about how busy I am, poor me, no one understands what I have to do, that is pointless and I take total responsibility for the length of the to-do novel I just wonder what it is that fuels the engine. Interestingly (for me anyway, you might think otherwise) when I gave myself the space to think and reflect on what I had truly been using my time for it occurred to me that the things that came to mind where those that involved people. Colleagues, peers, friends and family. Giving time to listen, connect and support where needed whether I was forwarding an email, having a coffee, taking a walk or posing challenging questions. All of this is time consuming and doesn't necessarily generate much visual or tangible output (which if I think we so often measure ourselves by) but, if I'm honest with myself about the contents of my working day, I believe this is the stuff that forms the foundation of what I do and where I draw my energy.


So, I got to thinking ... and reading... and came across an article on Lifehacker that talks about craftsmanship and how it is fundamentally "doing what you love and doing it right." In essence it suggested that no matter what you do in your role, your job is your craft and that you should think of your work as a step towards becoming an expert in what you do or honing your skills. 


Now my funny little brain immediately said... "Yay, I can become an expert coffee drinker and gossip! My life is complete!" but I'm guessing that I should really think a little more deeply than that, right? So I have put on the breaks and given myself permission to take a moment (or three) to consider my craft and plan how best enhance the work I do. Just as building an ornate cabinet requires delicate woodworking skills, maybe I need to identify and consider the tools of my trade and how best to perfect them.


I can't share any conclusions yet as a true craftsman develops over time (or so I am telling myself) but I do promise to update you on my journey and some of the madness that I am sure to find along the way as I try out new things.... who knows I might even switch from coffee and sample a few teas, but let's not get ahead of ourselves!!

"Improve your work by learning from others and from your own experiences"

Got to start somewhere...

So, I suppose you're wondering what this blog is all about? Well, I thought, as I have the pleasure of working with such a diverse and enthusiastic group of people, that I would share my random musings about all things Student Mentor Scheme. 


I can't promise that any of my ramblings will be of interest but that's not really the point of this, if I'm honest. This is my first blog and I have no idea where it is going to lead or what it will include and whilst that is a little scary it is also quite exciting. 

This post has come as a promise to my new recruits that, having challenged them with starting their own reflective blogs as part of their role, I would join them and have a go. After all, what's the point in saying that you should open yourself to new experiences when you aren't prepared to jump in and have a go too right?! 

So, here goes, I'm going to publish my first post... the first of what I hope will be many musings of a Mentor Manager's Mind. You have been warned..... 

......join me for this journey if you dare :)