Learning by Doing
Mentoring isn’t only about talking — it’s about doing. “Workouts” and experiments are practical exercises designed to stretch skills, test assumptions, and accelerate growth.
Designing Experiments
Good experiments are:
- Safe enough to fail without major consequences.
- Small enough to test quickly and iterate.
- Challenging enough to push boundaries.
Examples:
- Leading a difficult team conversation.
- Trying a new decision-making approach.
- Pitching an idea outside your comfort zone.
Reflecting on Results
After each experiment:
- What worked?
- What didn’t?
- What did I learn about myself?
- How will I adapt next time?
Mentoring as a Sandbox
The mentor provides perspective, encouragement, and constructive feedback. The mentee tries, fails, adapts, and learns — safely.
The Call to Action
Treat mentoring as a laboratory for growth. Plan experiments, embrace mistakes, and extract learning from every attempt. Action transforms insight into capability.
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Rod Matthews