YESP - Vancouver Training
- Barry Smith
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 9 hours ago
DAY 1
“Mentoring is the antidote to the Sour Kangaroo — it protects unseen potential from the voices of doubt.”
In Horton Hears a Who!, the Sour Kangaroo represents:
Cynicism
Social pressure
Groupthink
Mockery of belief in unseen potential
Mentoring does the opposite:
Sees what others don’t see
Stands firm in uncertainty
Amplifies quiet voices
Provides courage before confidence exists
Beyond the Strength-Based Approach
DAY 2
What is the difference between managing and mentoring?
The Process
Core → Thinking → Doing
This cycle supports young people to understand themselves, make sense of their world, and move forward with intention.
Core (Relationship & Meaning): Build trust and help youth explore who they are and what matters to them.
Thinking (Understanding & Curiosity): Encourage reflection, critical thinking, and deeper understanding.
Doing (Action & Growth): Support purposeful action, adaptability, and strategic planning.
The Levels of Engagement
Rebel, Quit
The individual resists or rejects mentoring, coaching, teaching efforts entirely. They may defy guidance, withdraw from the relationship, or disengage from any attempt to support or direct them. They show no interest or want to do it their own way.
Malicious Obedience
The person technically follows directions but does so with a negative attitude or in a way that undermines the intent. There's no genuine buy-in, and they may be passively resistant.
Willing Compliance
The individual accepts mentoring, coaching and teaching and follows guidance without resistance. They do what’s asked, but without deeper emotional investment or initiative.
Cheerful Cooperation
The individual actively participates and contributes with a positive attitude. They see value in the mentoring process and are open, responsive, and optimistic.
Heartfelt Commitment
The individual is deeply invested in the mentoring relationship or the task at hand. They take ownership of their growth, trust the mentor, and show dedication to their development and goals.
Creative Excitement
The highest level of engagement, where the individual not only embraces mentoring but brings energy, innovation, and enthusiasm. They start to mentor others, drive their own progress, and contribute new ideas.
Core
Explore who you are and what matters most to you.
Perspective
The Lens That Shapes Your Message. Perspective is the unique point of view shaped by your background, culture, beliefs, and life experiences. It influences how you interpret situations, what you notice, and how you communicate. Any challenge to overcome, your perspective determines the meaning you assign and the words you choose. It affects your tone, assumptions, and the examples you use by framing every message through your personal lens.
Perception
Perception is how you sense, interpret, and understand what’s happening around you. It’s what you notice, feel, and believe based on your experiences and your senses. It shapes what feels important to express, the emotions behind your words, and how you respond in conversation. For example, if you perceive someone’s silence as judgment, you might express insecurity; if you see it as tiredness, you may show concern. The same situation can feel entirely different depending on your perception. It’s not just what’s happening, but how you experience it that shapes your meaning.
Articulating Meaning
Articulating Meaning is about expressing how you see and experience the world. It is shaped by both your perception (what you believe to be true) and your perspective (the position you're seeing it from). Two people can view the same situation and walk away with different interpretations because of their personal experiences. Understanding this helps us become clear, more empathetic communicators. It reduces miscommunication, deepens self-awareness, and builds the skills to express ideas thoughtfully, especially, in moments of conflict, leadership, or teaching.
Doing
(Action & Growth): Support purposeful action, adaptability, and strategic planning.
Assessing Quality
Assessing Quality means helping individuals learn to evaluate their own efforts and choices through the lens of growth rather than perfection. Instead of focusing on getting everything right, they begin to understand progress, effort, and learning as valuable outcomes. This shift encourages self-assessment, resilience, and a healthier relationship with mistakes. It fosters confidence and persistence rather than fear of failure.
Adapting Resources
Adapting Resources means learning how to identify, access, and adjust tools, support systems, or knowledge to fit different situations and challenges. It’s it’s about using resources creatively and confidently to meet changing needs. This skill builds independence, encourages flexible thinking, and helps youth become more capable problem-solvers in both everyday life and complex situations.
Planning Strategies
Planning Strategies involves helping youth set meaningful goals, create realistic plans, and take actionable steps toward what matters to them. It’s the bridge between ideas and outcomes. It's where vision turns into movement. By building this skill, young people learn to organize their thoughts, make intentional choices, and take ownership of their growth.
ACTIVITY
4 Chronic Organizational and Team problems:
No clear purpose or vision.
Bureaucratic, misaligned systems.
Underutilized talent and potential.
4 Imperatives of Effective Leaders, Mentors & Managers:
Clarified purpose.
Aligned systems.
Unleash talent.
Inspire trust.
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