The benefits of finding a mentor

Transcription

1 The benefits of finding a mentor Mentor and Mentee from a Physiological Societysupported mentoring programme Dr Hannah Moir Senior Lecturer in Health and Exercise Physiology, Kingston University, London Dr Natalia Lajczak natalialajczak@rcsi.ie Postdoctoral Researcher, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

2 What is mentoring?

3 What is mentoring? Someone to talk to, who values you, respects and does not have a hidden agenda and wants you to succeed Guidance and Counsel Enabling relationships and enabling them to be better Experienced person (mentor) and less experienced (mentee)

4 Function of Mentoring Influencing Responsibility Informing Share understandings Probing Expanding contacts Summarising and guiding guiding them in the right direction or giving them another perspective

5 Assistance through effective mentoring Advising Provide strategies Mentoring Nurture, support, advocate Tutor Confront Feedback and guidance

6 Reasons for joining Dealing with the journey of a researcher Career management gap Lack of (female) mentors Curious and want to learn Motivated to improve their career, Personal/ professional challenges

7 PhySoc scheme March 2013 applied to take part as a mentor/mentee in the PhySoc mentoring scheme. The team looked at possible pairings Offered training days Mentors and mentees noted the value held in these courses

8 Importance of mentoring What kind of guidance do you want from a mentor?

9 Importance of mentoring What kind of guidance do you want from a mentor? Encouragement Support Honesty Guidance and suggestions Idea stimulation information and advice - "big picture" Help developing a network Insight to career paths

10 Mentors The heroes are the mentors who generously offer their time and wisdom to mentees, guiding them down the paths that they themselves have walked

11 1. Perspective and Experience Mentors have gone through the ups and downs of PhD and through these experiences are in a position to help you with your decision making. Whether it s providing advice on how to approach an scientific problem, obtaining additional technical skills, prepare for Viva voice examination or how to structure your CV for a clerkship, getting advice from a mentor will help you to tackle your next challenge. A mentor can be a great sounding board for all issues whether you are having difficulty with your immediate supervisor, an ethical dilemma, or need advice on how to tackle a new project.

12 2. Solid support network Joining a mentoring program also provides you with access to a fantastic support network. We ve all had a crisis moment during our PhD s, and while Googling inspirational quotes may help every now and then, having a real life human to talk to is definitely better.

13 3. Building valuable skills Being involved in a mentoring group may also prove to be valuable for building your communication and teamwork skills. Such skills will help you to make friends, to do well in group work assignments, and are especially important in the workplace. Being able to communicate effectively and work well with others is crucial to a successful scientific career, and there s no better place to build these skills than in a comfortable environment like a mentoring program.

14 4. Think Outside the Box. A mentor can help you look at situations in new ways. He or she can ask hard questions and help you solve problems. 5. Define and Reach Long-Term Goals A mentor can help you define your career path and ensure that you don t lose focus and continue down that road even when you become distracted by day-to-day pressures. 6. Open Doors. Available positions, funding etc.

15 Good mentor A mentor will help a mentee believe in his or her capabilities as a person. The self-confidence of the mentee will be improved and they will be more apt to accept more challenges in the future. The mentoring program will be an opportunity for you to take a deeper look at yourself, your goals, your personality, and your life. This will enable you to know which the right path you should take in life is.

16 collaborative than didactic What makes a good mentee Choosing the right mentor Determine qualities most valued Establish your goals for the relationship Determine how a mentor can best help you Outline what you want to learn

17 What makes a good mentor Active listening Identifying goals with respect to current reality Building trust Encouraging and inspiring Providing corrective feedback Managing risks Opening doors Instructing and developing capabilities Knowing oneself. model, counsellor, confidante, teacher, advocate, and advisor

18 Why Join a mentor program? Mentors are especially important for women who work in fields dominated by men. Mentoring is also one of the most effective ways for you to advance in your career because your skills are developed and your performance is monitored. Especially valuable for women!!! Formal mentoring programs equalize access to people, resources, and information, and is an important aspect of an organisation s diversity program.

19 Benefits as a mentee Define and achieve new goals by being a mentee Defined direction to my academic and future career choices Improved my academic performance Improved my interpersonal skills by learning from the experience of Hannah Happier with my professional life in general Inspired by the role model Built a lasting relationship and expanded my network at the same time

20 Benefits Everyone should benefit A great way to discuss research General problems that arise Coping strategies Addressing research issues Develop professional skills, increase confidence, and expand professional network.

21 How does a mentor benefit? Career advancement Information gathering Reduce potential isolation Personal satisfaction sense of pride at helping a junior person succeed. "giving back" some of what the others have given to them. Sharpened leadership interpersonal Source of recognition Expanded professional contacts

22 What should the mentor/mentee relationship be?

23 What should the mentor/mentee relationship be? Professional Mutual respect Mutual trust Cordial Enduring frequent and rational

24 Communication First by and then skype and in person. Get to know each other, share information about their backgrounds, and establish a foundation of trust. Discuss goals and sketch out a framework for future interactions that ensures both are actively involved in and engaged by the mentoring process

25 Consider What are your goals for the mentoring What are the objectives How are you working to achieve these goal What outside resources are needed

26 Issues? Work is out of the field of my own research? Not too sure what they are after? Communication issues? Lack of time? Not developing as it should? Differences?

27 Good practice Both staff member and PhD student feel free in starting and ending the mentoring relationship. Mentor and mentee prepare for the mentoring relationship Mentor takes initiative in establishing the relationship Mentor and mentee together create a basis for trust and reciprocity Mentor and mentee focus on learning in mentoring

28 Thank You! Any