In the world of horticulture, a greenhouse provides a controlled environment in which plants or seedling can be started until they are able to thrive on their own in the outside world.  The mentor-leader can provide a greenhouse for protégés by creating a safe environment in which the character of the protégé is cultivated, an affirming community is nurtured, and a healthy organizational culture is modeled.  Thus, an environment is created in which growth is more likely to occur for protégés and their future success is promoted.  From the perspective of one who teaches and mentors young emerging leaders, cultivating character, community, and culture is viewed as essential to the development of healthy protégés and organizations.  They are the building blocks for mentoring success.

This paper presents a model for developing leaders who will lead effectively and finish well in their careers. This model has been utilized with graduate students and young professionals in the business world. In addition to the presentation of some general mentoring principles, it describes four crucial building blocks which provide a holistic approach for mentoring leaders through the development of a process utilizing the content of these building blocks. The need for such a model is supported by research and experience in the dropout rate among leaders and in the pressures placed upon emerging leaders in today’s culture.