Choosing Your GTY Project

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Jennifer Daniels in Best Practices, Entrepreneurs, Leadership

In Choosing Your GTY Project, the twelfth program in the TriNet Extreme Leadership Video Series, leadership expert, bestselling author, and host Steve Farber continues to guide viewers in the implementation of the GTY Project—“GTY” meaning greater than yourself.

Farber reminds us that “The greatest leaders become the greatest by making others greater than themselves.” Having challenged viewers to think about who they might choose to mentor in last month’s presentation, he now hones in on what specific characteristics participants who have taken up his challenge should look for when making the final choice of who they will attempt to groom to be greater than themselves.

Although he freely admits that he doesn’t have all the answers for selecting the perfect choice, Farber does share some valuable directional guidelines. He believes they are important because the GTY Project is a deeply interpersonal relationship between two individuals. If the wrong match occurs there can be serious consequences. “You don’t want the person you are mentoring to use the knowledge you share with them in the wrong way, to your own disadvantage, or for political gain,” Farber observes, “That’s not the kind of person you want to focus your intense GTY Project attention on.”

Lack of follow-through is another issue that can derail the GTY Project. The mentor/mentored relationship is such an intense investment of time that when the drive, energy, and work ethic are missing on the part of the individual being groomed, the process becomes futile. Farber’s guidelines—there are six of them—will help to ensure that such disappointing outcomes don’t arise.

Interestingly, the six principles are not only useful in the context of Choosing Your GTY Project but can also serve as a template for identifying the people in your world that have the qualities that would make them meaningful, valuable friends. So whether you choose to take up Farber’s challenge or not, watching the presentation and learning what his six principles are can be a enlightening experience.

All of the videos in the TriNet Extreme Leadership Series—an exclusive program for TriNet client companies—can be accessed through our online portal, HR Passport^®. Trinet.com visitors are welcome to get a sampling of the program or to contact us for additional information.