Mentoring: Eyes to See, Ears to Hear, and a Heart to Give

Abstract

The perfect mentor has been described as possessing the following characteristics: “wisdom, success, influential leadership, technical expertise, time for others, kind and able to manage their own life such that work isn’t everything” (Ibarra, Harvard Business Review 78:146–155, 2000). Mentoring can be defined as a more senior person who provides various kinds of personal and career assistance to a less senior or experienced person. This chapter explores a rare example of someone who embodies the behaviors and attitudes of a perfect mentor, Joseph F. Hair. He exhibits a genuine compassion for people and personifies the absolute principles of the perfect mentor. As a professor of over 45 years and research contributor to more than 50 books and numerous academic publications, Joe continues to positively impact lives and the discipline through service. Through the incorporation of personal experience as one of Joe Hair’s proteges, as well as his words and actions, this chapter offers guidance for mentoring doctoral students and junior faculty.