University of West Florida issued the following announcement on Nov. 22.
Dr. Sherry Hartnett, director of the University of West Florida Executive Mentor Program and clinical professor of business, along with Bert Thornton, former president and COO of Waffle House and College of Business Advisory Council member, recently published a book titled, “High-Impact Mentoring: A Practical Guide to Creating Value in Other People’s Lives.”
“We’ve never needed mentors more than we do now,” Thornton said. “The world is in a state of intense chaos, change and uncertainty. Employees need the right skill set and mindset to navigate these unprecedented times, while companies need the right culture to develop and nurture these skills and attitudes. No one is born knowing how to work and lead in this environment. We need role models, teachers and coaches—mentors—to show us the way.”
The book is meant to teach readers how to be great mentors and help organizations operationalize the power of mentoring. In it, Thornton offers “across the table” advice on one-on-one mentoring, while Hartnett lays out a framework to help companies put their own program in place.
“High Impact Mentoring is packed with practical, easy-to-grasp tips and tactics,” Hartnett said. “But it’s much more than just a how-to guide; it’s a fun, readable dose of wisdom and inspiration. Filled with real-world stories and case studies, this book is a must for anyone who wants to make a difference in the lives of others…and any organization seeking to engage employees, attract and retain talent, and become a better place to work.”
Among the insights readers will learn are: the core attributes of a great mentor; the “8 Great Social Tells” and how they should shape the mentoring you provide; seven vital steps your organization must follow to create a robust mentoring program; and more.
Hartnett is a highly respected marketing and leadership professor, consultant and mentor. She entered the world of academia after a successful business career as a senior-level marketing executive. At UWF, she founded the pioneering, high-impact experiential learning Executive Mentor Program and the Women in Leadership Conference to educate the next generation of business leaders who will shape the destiny of our future.
Thornton joined Waffle House as a manager trainee, before becoming a vice president four years later. He has spent the last 40 years shaping careers, including his own, as Waffle House grew from a few southern restaurants to the iconic national presence it enjoys today.
As president and chief operations officer, Thornton said he felt his number-one priority was the development of quality leaders and leadership skills within the Waffle House management team. In recent years, he has focused his message on emerging leaders from many other companies, educational institutions and business associations. Thousands of students, mentors and business people of all ages have heard and benefited from his “Success Tactics” presentation and other talks covering many other subjects. Today he is vice chairman emeritus of Waffle House Inc. and serves on a multitude of community and organizational boards in Georgia and Florida. He is a member of the board of directors of the Studer Community Institute and is an entrepreneur-in-residence at the UWF Center for Entrepreneurship.
For more information about “High Impact Mentoring,” visit highimpactmentoringbook.com.
To learn more about the UWF College of Business, visit uwf.edu/cob.
Original source can be found here.
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