Newsletter Spring 2011 issue

letter from Sophie

Dear colleagues,

Welcome to Spring and our new identity. After 14 years we decided it was time for a fresh look that builds on our core strengths of connecting, growing and developing people. It’s bright, vibrant and inclusive and we hope you like it.

Clients based in Adelaide, Health Workforce and The interest in mentoring continues to grow Brisbane based Energy Development Limited. All of and in the past six months we have established these companies are making an investment in their mentoring programs with a range of new clients key people by offering them external mentors often including Industry organisations Medical Technology outside their sector. Read our interview with Peter Association of Australia and The Property Council Watts AM and Tim Matthies from Musica Viva on of Australia; a global program for high potential why they found mentoring valuable. women at ; a large health reform initiative

www.mccarthymentoring.com Philanthropy total revenue. The work by our mentors in the Our mentoring programs for executives and Mentoring for Philanthropy program, funded by the philanthropy managers in Major Performing Arts Australia Council for the Arts, over the past seven Companies across Australia continue to thrive. years has no doubt contributed to this success. Recent research from AMPAG reports that total Congratulations to them and the many participating private giving to major performing arts companies companies. The growth in philanthropic revenue in Australia has more than trebled since 2001 may soon overtake the contribution from business in and now accounts for 46% or $25.4 million of the form of corporate sponsorship, which marks an interesting shift in our community. Read more here in the artsupport Australia newsletter.

Research We are conducting some research with our mentees over the past 14 years to address some commonly asked questions about mentoring and its value. Please get involved and look out for the launch of the findings in a couple of months. Read Professor Ed Davis’s article here on whether coaching and mentoring programs deliver on the promise.

Global I had the pleasure of meeting Cherie Blair last month in and learning about her

must read Blogs Books Anthony K.Tjan, Keeping great people with three Women at Work kinds of mentors Research Policy Mireille Guiliano, Wendy McCarthy, and Practice, Women, Work, and Daughters of the Amy Gallo, Wendy McCarthy, Tilde University Press the Art of Savoir Faire revolution, Griffith Demystifying One2one, The Guide 2011, Chapter Nine: Business Sense & Review 32 Wicked Mentoring for Mentors & The Women’s leadership Sensibility problems, exquisite Guide for Mentees. and mentoring, dilemmas ed Julianne New edition 2011 Wendy McCarthy Schultz Autumn 2011 foundation (www.cbfwmentoring.org) for women. I was inspired and motivated to develop Mentoring is a key platform of her foundation that our technological capacity so that our program aims to support women in developing countries to can reach people in remote and rural establish and expand small to medium businesses. locations in Australia. A partnership with Google has enabled it to go Look out for our new website coming soon. truly global. Perhaps some of you may wish to get involved and use your mentoring skills in a different Best wishes, way. Please contact at their office in London Giulia Sophie if you are interested.

ARTICLES LECTURE An inspiring article from The New Yorker about Sheryl 14th Annual Hawke Lecture. International criminal trials. Sandberg, who at 38 left the senior executive of Google A promise fulfilled? Delivered by The Hon Dame Silvia to go as COO to Facebook. Love it or hate it this is a Cartwright PCNZM, DBE, QSO, DStJ, Former Governor fascinating story on many levels—choices, leadership, General of New Zealand and now Trial Judge, United Nations women, mentors, definitions of success and courage. Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials, Courts of Cambodia Thursday 9 June 2011, Adelaide Town Hall, 128 King Interview with Wendy McCarthy, In The Black, William Street, Adelaide September 2011

Working Australia Census, 2011

feature

Coaching & Mentoring: Delivering the Promise?

One of our mentors Ed Davis has recently published this having a focus on a particular skill and it is the role succinct article on the factors for success in mentoring of the coach to assist the subject to improve their and coaching programs. performance in this sphere.

Professor Ed Davis* HR In Focus Issue 31 - February Mentoring is seen as much broader. It involves 2011, Newsletter of HR Partners. a process in which the mentee might identify and

Bold claims have been made about the explore a range of issues and possible paths to benefits to be anticipated from organisational their resolution, aided by their mentor. Wendy investment in coaching and mentoring. Those McCarthy writes: A mentoring relationship is coached and/or mentored will experience a lift one where a wiser and more experienced person (1) in their skills and this will be reflected in improved assists another person to grow and learn. organisational performance. Is this happening? In practice, coaching and mentoring substantially Is the promise kept? overlap. Mentors will inevitably coach during parts

A necessary starting place in this discussion is to of their sessions and coaches will mentor. It is clarify the meaning of the terms. The Macquarie perhaps unhelpful that the term ‘executive coaching’ Dictionary refers to a coach as ‘a person who trains most often refers to the mentoring of senior athletes for games, a contest (or)…a private tutor managers! My focus here is on the mentoring of top who prepares a student for an examination’. A and senior managers by an external person. Further, mentor is ‘a wise and trusted counsellor’. Many of the mentoring is face-to-face rather than by phone the books and papers on this subject bring out this or use of the net (e-mentoring). difference. Management coaching is often seen as The fast pace of change and the nature of

the pressures on managers have leant a special • Improved performance relevance to coaching and mentoring. Many management systems managers, at all levels, struggle with the technical, • Higher quality strategic and leadership challenges that they face. communications and They also face tests in relation to their management improved teamwork of themselves (their health and well-being) and Professor Ed Davis • Mentee appreciation of the their family and other relationships. Some have organisation’s investment people at work that they can talk to and confide in; in them.(2) many do not. Many do not find it easy to discuss In brief, this study found profound benefits for the pressing issues with their own supervisors, peers mentees and their organisation. Many other studies and reports. They prefer to avoid admission of too have stressed the gains for organisations in possible failure or lack of skill. The external mentor is terms of the development of leadership talent, talent therefore a safer confessor and source of advice. retention and overall improved performance. A recent study on coaching and mentoring provided It is not however plain sailing. A number of a detailed list of the benefits that might be gained. conditions must be met to afford coaching and These included: mentoring the opportunity to work their magic. • Professional development of mentees There are financial and time costs involved. The • Improved performance and goal attainment costs will appear immediately; the benefits may well • Improved mentees’ understanding of be lumpy and spread over the medium and longer their organisations term. Some investments may appear to backfire

• Mentee feedback on organisational practices as mentees leave the organisation and take their skill enhancement elsewhere. Many organisational leaders are under pressure to deliver short term results; in this light investment in coaching and “A mentoring relationship is mentoring might not appear a priority or one which one where a wiser and more may be the more easily abandoned. Top level experienced person assists another commitment to the coaching and mentoring of their senior staff is a very good platform for the delivery person to grow and learn.” of significant benefits. feature

There are further essential ingredients. It is vital Mentors will need to commit their time, energy that the mentee wishes to be involved in the and enthusiasm and this should be visible to process. If, for instance, the mentee believes that the mentee and contribute to the encouragement the assignment of a mentor is a disciplinary signal which mentees associate with the process. from their supervisor, they may feel distrustful It is important too that mentors avoid some pitfalls. and inhibited. It is unlikely that the process will They should avoid the temptation to dominate deliver for them. It is also critical that the mentor the discussions; these should be led by the mentee. is appropriately skilled. The mentor will need They should avoid telling the mentee what to do; developed interpersonal skills that enable them it is most often better for the mentee to weigh up to build trust; they will need to practice high level various paths and determine their own considered communication skills so that they listen to what path. The mentor should be non-judgemental is said, and observe and understand the body so that the mentee understands it is safe to language of their mentees. Mentors will benefit discuss their own failings, mistakes and feelings. from their own experience at senior levels of A further necessary skill is that the mentor should organisations; this will assist in framing questions understand the limits of their own competence. for mentees to guide them to identify a range of There will be occasions when mentees might strategic options and possible outcomes. sensibly be advised to seek medical assistance or professional counselling.

Coaching and mentoring are not substitutes My reading of research in this area for other relationships in the workplace. It is important that the normal pattern of discussions and my own experience of being between managers and their supervisors are mentored and of mentoring across retained and in the best of circumstances enriched. a range of levels and industries has The process too should not become addictive. convinced me that many managers The aim is to enhance the all- round skills of the mentee so that they are able to operate effectively benefit to a very substantial degree without coaching support. from the process. Indeed for some My reading of research in this area and my own it is life-changing. experience of being mentored and of mentoring out & about across a range of levels and industries has convinced me that many managers benefit to a This is where we’ve been in the past few months... very substantial degree from the process. Indeed Brisbane Festival of Ideas Is gender back on the Agenda Mater Education Centre National Leadership Conference for some it is life-changing. Many senior managers in Brisbane, August Mentoring Taking the Long View have reported to me that they have been amazed Radio National Interview on Governance and Mentoring at the turn-around and development that they Family Planning Annual Conference have witnessed in those mentored. Perhaps most Presenting the McCarthy Green Scholarship This scholarship enables a Registered Nurse/Midwife heartening is where partners and other family working in an Aboriginal community in NSW to fully complete describe the profound changes that they have seen the FPNSW Certificate in Sexual and Reproductive Health (Nursing), which is accredited by the Royal College of and welcomed. There is a magic in mentoring Nursing Australia. The clinical module can be completed in but it requires commitment from the top, the mentor FPA centres in Sydney, Dubbo or Newcastle. Victorian Association of Secondary School Principals and the mentee. Annual Conference: Everyone needs a mentor. Key note speech (1) Wendy McCarthy, One 2 One; The Guide for Panel Discussion at the National Press Club in Canberra Mentors, www.mccarthymentoring.com

(2) John McGill, The Impact of Executive Coaching on the Performance Management of International Managers in China, PhD thesis, Work and Organisational Studies, University of Sydney, 2010, unpublished.

* Professor Ed Davis AM is Emeritus Professor at the Faculty of Business and Economics, Macquarie

University and Honorary Professor in the Faculty Leadership: Does gender make a difference with Natasha of Economics and Business at the University of Stott Despoja, Christine Nixon, Governor General Quentin Bryce AC; ACT Chief Minister Kate Gallagher, Hosted Sydney. He works as a mentor across a range of by Professor Virginia Haussegger, ANZSOG Institute for organisations and also assists in conflict resolution. Governance University of Canberra HESTA National series of workshops on Leadership and He is a member of the Institute of Arbitrators and mentoring for Unions and Employers Mediators Australia. He can be contacted on July – October. [email protected] Property Council of Australia Executive Women’s Series lunch, Brisbane, August. Mentoring workshops for Qantas and Property Council of Australia Since 2008 McCarthy Mentoring has been contracted by The Australia Council for the Arts to develop and What do you enjoy most about being a mentor? manage a 12 month mentoring program for senior I enjoy all aspects of the role. The unpredictability executives in Major Performing Arts companies. is particularly fascinating. I enjoy getting to know Mentees are nominated by the General Manager and new people, from different disciplines, with matched with external mentors often working in a variety of circumstances, concerns and issues. different sectors. In the most recent program in which We come together with a sense of uncertainty but Timothy Matthies participated mentees reported after a few breakfast meetings we invariably develop that the key benefits of the mentoring relationships were focused career planning, developing strategies a sense of comfort and confidence that allows to manage difficult workplace situations, increased us the freedom to discuss anything. That is a rare personal confidence, and having access to an impartial and privileged circumstance. adviser to assist problem solving. What’s the hardest part about being For further information on participating contact David a good mentor? Colville at The Australia Council. I do not find any part of it particularly hard—at least not yet! There are challenges—having to respond strategically as well as personally; checking myself from suggesting a solution—better to lead a mentee to see a solution themselves; maintaining a professional relationship with someone who one2one you come to know very well and who may want to discuss some very personal matters. Peter Watts AM is an architect and landscape architect and was the Inaugural Director of Has it been a good match? the Historic Houses Trust of NSW from 1981–2008. Tim and I both come from the not-for-profit cultural During this time this multi-faceted organisation world, though from very different parts of it. It helped won more than 120 awards for architecture, me to understand the general environment he conservation, design, tourism, works within and the need to balance cultural and venue management, sustainability, commercial issues. At a more personal level we got philanthropy, interpretation, on well together, respecting one another, and feeling publication, urban designand free to be very frank and honest.

exhibitions. Peter is currently Do you think you’ve made a difference? Chair of the National Art School, That is for Tim to say. He had a significant and Sydney; Chair, The Johnston very challenging career change soon after we started Collection, , and sits together and he needed to broaden his horizons. on the Bundanon Trust and the I like to think that I acted as a sounding board for Official Establishments Trust. him—encouraging, questioning, cajoling and supporting him as he faced new challenges. We have Peter Watts continued to meet despite the formal arrangement and it’s a constant juggling of concluding, so I take that as a positive sign. priorities and goals around present and future activity What have you learnt from the experience? and making sure that everyone Mentoring is enormously affirmative for me. It is able to work to the best of makes me realise that, despite having lost my their abilities to realise the particular professional discipline and become company’s shared vision of a generalist, I have gained much experience and inspiring Australians through (I hope) a little bit of wisdom in the course of ensemble music. my professional and personal life. It has surprised Timothy Matthies me how helpful this is—in both practical and Has the mentoring abstract ways—in guiding others. relationship met your expectations? The mentoring relationship has exceeded my Timothy Matthies, Director of Business expectations. The chance to be able to discuss big Development Concerts, Musica Viva Australia picture ideas and problems with someone outside my organisation and personal situation allowed me What do you love about your job? to look deeply inside myself and question where I The part that I play in bringing inspirational and was at and where I hoped to be. joyful musicians to perform for Musica Viva’s diverse national audiences, from school students What aspects have been most valuable? to retired doctors and lawyers and many others in Peter is good at asking the challenging questions, between. There is something very special that is some of which I’ve wanted to avoid at times. communicated through live performance and all He didn’t allow me to do this and also helped me the artists we work with are chosen because they to focus my strategic thinking and approach in believe in the magic of music. an open and constructive way.

What are the benefits for you and What do you do for fun? Musica Viva? Make music! I sing in Sydney Philharmonia Choirs The benefits of the mentoring have been a and perform a number of times a year in works of deeper sense of confidence within me that has many different styles. This gives me an opportunity allowed me to change roles at Musica Viva to express myself through the joy of music. and bring my extensive knowledge of the company In your current role what is your greatest to bear on a different aspect of our business. challenge? It has also connected me with a wider network My greatest challenge is also my greatest and given me insights into the broader arts opportunity. Musica Viva is a national organisation environment that have assisted my goals and with a long history and many engaged stakeholders. approach in my changed role. My role works across all the capital cities with our employees and volunteers and partner organisations 2011 events

Melbourne Sydney All mentors are expected to attend at 23 September 13 October least one workshop each year. They 11.15am Briefing for Mentors 3.00pm Briefing for Mentors are designed for mentors to meet Alexandra Club, Collins Street McGrath Estate Agents, and discuss ideas and strategies in a 191 New South Head Road, confidential and informal setting. 23 September Edgecliff, Lunch 12.30 pm Lunch with Fiona Sharkie, Executive Director, Quit Victoria 9 November Alexandra Club, Collins Street 5.30 pm Christmas Drinks The Union Club, Bent Street

SPOTLIGHT Sherry Valberg It is a different culture to her previous experience in oil and Financial Controller, Qantas Engineering gas where opportunities for growth were only limited by Sherry Valberg loves a challenge. your imagination. At 27, Schlumberger Oilfield Services, her Many would agree that she’s in the right employer of five years in Perth presented her with a great job as Financial Controller of Qantas opportunity as a tax analyst in the Middle East. Based in Engineering, a role she’s held for the last Dubai, Sherry travelled regularly to Libya, Oman, Egypt and year and a half after 15 years working in Dubai, Curacao, Iran managing tax reporting requirements for the company. The Netherlands, her home town of Perth and now Sydney. Another promotion at Schlumberger then took her to Sherry worked for Wesfarmers in Perth for three years in an The Netherlands where she managed a team of 28 in a accounting role after graduating from Curtin University of global role as Assistant Controller. Her time in this role Technology with a Bachelor of Commerce. Perhaps having was spent between three parts of the world—Amsterdam, a mother from Singapore and a father from the Netherlands Curacao and Dubai. developed her curiosity for other cultures and love of travel. A lucky Australian man managed to lure her back At Qantas Sherry heads a team of 10 that is responsible for to Australian shores to get married. Qantas is also a managing all of Qantas Engineering’s reporting processes beneficiary...watch this space. and compliance requirements. She loves the aviation Sherry is one of 25 mentees on the Women at Quantas industry and its challenges. We are always asking our group Development Program. “How can we manage what we have better? That’s the interesting part!”