Mentorship Pre-Assessment

| May 18, 2011 | 17 comments

I’m gearing up for a bigger post, and I’m looking for some feedback before I do. Consider this a pre-assessment. Let’s fire up the comments –

 

What does mentorship mean to you?

How did you first meet or connect with your mentors?

How do you sustain a mentoring relationship over time?

Mentorship Pre-Assessment was posted on May 18, 2011 at 10:16 pm in Student Staff and tagged as , , . It was last modified on May 18, 2011 at 10:16 pm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your site.

Share on Twitter, Facebook, Delicious, Digg, Reddit

Related Posts

  • Laurie berry

    What does mentorship mean to you?
    Mentorship is a committed relationship. It is a long term relationship in most cases where frank and caring conversations can happen.

    How did you first meet or connect with your mentors?
    Some have come through structured programs and some have come as a result of working along side or on a project with someone. Some have come from me seeking a person of influence that offers me a different view or approach to life.

    Each mentoring relationship has it’s own unique feel to it. Some are structured and formal and some are more informal and organic.

    How do you sustain a mentoring relationship over time?
    For me it is important to keep the conversation going. Some need to be systematic to keep it moving forward. I have one mentor that I have gone years without talking and we have picked right up where we left off. Knowing it is often a long term commitment lets many of them unfold slowly.

  • http://twitter.com/sarahhcraddock Sarah

    I think I must be hard to mentor.

    I see mentorship as a sort of “taking under the wing,” helping someone navigate, figure out a path, and get there. It could be a supervisor, it could not. I’ve had 2-3 people that I thought were mentors, then when the relationship changed (people leaving the institution, me leaving), the mentorship really dropped off, and it didn’t feel the same to ask questions.

    I’m hoping to find a mentor at my next institution – someone that can recognize I occasionally need a kick in the butt, or help to focus. I LOVE this field, and cannot imagine myself doing anything but higher ed work – but there’s so much I want to do.

    I want to be someone’s mentor too – but I often worry that I have so much that I don’t know or haven’t figured out, and am I really the best person to mentor someone when I can’t seem to figure it out myself?

  • Torry Bruce

    It is so interesting that you brought this up Stacy as I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. I’ve often known how I’ve felt about the concept of mentorship and what it looks and feels like. One thing I have grown to know for sure is that the word Mentor is used to flippantly and needs to be kept a bit more sacred. It is a very purposeful and intentional act that is process of mutual involvement. All too often I hear people say they mentored someone through a process. I asked them what that “mentoring” looked like and through the discussion was able to help them understand that what they did was more like guiding or coaching. For quite some time my thoughts were very jumbled around just how I felt, but stumbled across a blog post late last week that really put into words all that I was thinking. So instead of me continuing to fumble through I’ll just share the link. The summary of it is that I should be doing more to apprentice folks rather than mentor. It really is finding a way to take a well groomed relationship to the next level.

    http://leadershipfreak.wordpress.com/2011/05/13/take-mentoring-to-the-next-level/

  • Erin Ebert

    I hope this isn’t too long Stacy!

    What does mentorship mean to you?

    To me, it is one that is invested in who I am, personally and professionally. Kathy (current mentor), isn’t afraid to encourage me…but also point out “areas for growth”. If I need a clear, accurate assesment of something, I know that she’s the one to provide that. We talk about books, current issues in Higher Ed, things going on on our campus, and how I can get where I want to go (and where she’s heading). One of the things that I appreciate most is that I know our relationship will last, regardless of where she goes next (she’s searching). I appreciate that she takes time out of her hetic schedule to meet with me. Kathy tells us that we (the Res Life staff members) are in charge of our own Pro. Dev., and we are responsible for making it happen. So, I pursue opportunities, relationships, and know I have the support of my mentor.

    How did you first meet or connect with your mentors?

    It seems that I’ve connected in various ways. My first because he was my advisor, my second because she was a supervisor in grad school, and now that I’m in the field professionally, she is the Associate Director of our department. My most recent mentor, Kathy, and I met during a NASPA social, then again at my interview–going to breakfast with her cemented my decision that my current institution would be a good place for me since I’d get to work with and learn from, her. The way she leads connected with me. We are both former athletes, and she was a collegiate coach…I respond well to the person that contantly expects the best, and will pull it out of you.

    How do you sustain a mentoring relationship over time?

    My current mentor and I make time to catch up over lunch, and stay committed to connecting every month, even if it is just stopping by her office instead of heading out (the spring is crazy here!).

    Previous mentors-we connect via facebook and phone (they haven’t make the twitter jump yet). It’s been so interesting to see our relationships develop from Advisor/Advisee and Supervisor/Supervisee to colleagues, now that I’ve gone through grad school and have been in my professional capacity for 2 years.

  • Ann Marie Klotz

    What does mentorship mean to you?
    To me, it means an understanding of professional investment in another person. It is an honest relationship designed for the mentor to help guide the mentee towards their goals and help them through potential obstacles. It is typically a short-term thing, depending on the particular need. For example, I have some current mentors that are helping me while I navigate my doctoral degree which (hopefully) will be completed sometime in the near future. Our mentorship relationship (at least for that purpose) is now over upon completion but it deosn’t mean that another type of relationship could develop in its place.

    How did you first meet or connect with your mentors?
    I can identify four primary mentors. They are typically the result of being at the same insitution or via networking. A connection, mutual appreciation for what each other contributes, and a general liking of each other seems to start these relationships.

    How do you sustain a mentoring relationship over time?Consistency is key. Be judicious about the times you need a mentor versus the times you need a friend. Be reciprocal–ask your mentor what you can do for them, too.

  • Lisa Endersby

    What does mentorship mean to you?

    - Mentorship to me is a co-created and co-facilitated journey of growth and development. I never liked the one way direction that power flowed in some previous mentoring relationships I was in, and prefer instead to think of mentorship as a learning partnership. While a mentor usually has more skill/experience/knowledge in a particular area, mentorship is almost like a mini classroom or private tutoring session to support learning.

    How did you first meet or connect with your mentors?

    -The same way I meet anyone – conversations and connecting. I’ve met some amazing mentors over Twitter, in the workplace and within my circle of friends. You never know who will impact your life and when so I try to talk to everyone! :)

    How do you sustain a mentoring relationship over time?

    - Communicate, communicate, communicate. Especially when things are tough or something isn’t working. Too often we let relationships taper off because something was said or done that we didn’t like or weren’t comfortable with but we’re afraid to say anything. It’s important to get beyond the fear of ‘looking silly’ with someone and be brave enough to ask questions and ask for help.

  • Kate Kinsella

    What does mentorship mean to you?
    A professional relationship between two people in the same (or similar) field or work. The “mentor” has a certain experience or skill set that the “mentee” requires/desires. It’s a learning relationship and may develop into a friendship over time. I also think that the learning between the “mentor” and the “mentee” is fluid, and not just one-sided. I used to tell my students that I probably learned more from them than they did from me. Same sort of idea here.

    How did you first meet or connect with your mentors?
    A few ways: colleagues at the same institution, networking at conferences/PD opportunities, through a 3rd party (“I think you should really meet XYZ”) and having the courage to call someone up and ask, even if they didn’t know me that well.

    How do you sustain a mentoring relationship over time?
    Responsibility lies on both parties. Making time for one another. Scheduling the time to connect at least once a month. Taking advantage of PD opportunities together (both plan to attend the same event). Mentoring relationships may change over time to, so recognizing when it’s time for a new mentor is key. Not to say that you no longer need your original mentor, your chosen path may just require a different perspective from someone new. I imagine that some sort of relationship would be maintained with the original mentor. I know I have a lot of respect and admiration for some of the first people I counted as mentors. Some have become dear friends.

  • Kelley

    What does mentorship mean to you?

    It’s about building a long lasting relationship with someone who will see/be with you through you’re accomplishments, failures and challenges. It’s someone who watches you grow as a person and is there to make sure you are being balanced. It’s someone who knows you better then yourself and can see things in you when you can’t.

    How did you first meet or connect with your mentors?
    During undergrad I had 4 mentors; 2 were SA pro 1 was the swim coach and the 4 was a professor of mine. Sadly, we all have gone our separate ways. Right now through our mentor-ship program I have been introduced to two wonderful women. Twitter has also provided me with the opportunity to seek out mentors.

    How do you sustain a mentoring relationship over time?
    To keep a mentoring relationship alive I believe the following are necessary: Building trust, providing empathy, stay connected, being able to lean on each other, cry together, laugh together, share your dreams together. By doing all these things I think this is how the relationship will last.

  • @E_Nunn

    What does mentorship mean to you?
    Mentorship to me is a relationship that is built on trust regarding the development of both parties involved. They can be formal or informal and usually will evolve to friendship or from supervision/advising roles or formalized programs. Mentorship is an investment in someone else.

    How did you first meet or connect with your mentors?
    All of my mentors have been developed with creating bonds with supervisors or advisors. These relationships have changed since leaving those positions and are less mentorship and more friend/colleagues that I may seek advice from on specific topics. Though I’ve frequently sought out the role to become a mentor through formalized programs, I have not yet sought out a mentor, even though I have identified women who have qualities I admire that I would like to learn from.
    This is where I struggle- how do I create a mentoring relationship with a colleague I admire? Is it better to have mentors who are distanced from your current institution?

    How do you sustain a mentoring relationship over time?
    I don’t necessarily think that all mentoring relationships need to last forever. I think we all have mentors that help us through certain areas of development or stages in our career (undergrad-grad, grad-professional, transitioning into first role, balancing work/family, etc) As we move on in our career and lives, previous mentors may not “fit” with that new role or developments in our lives. I think this is when mentorship (especially in our field) moves to more friendship/colleagues. And I think this is okay.
    I think when in a mentoring relationships as the mentor, I’ve always been open to defining together what this relationship means and what it looks like.

  • Michelle Hopper

    What does mentorship mean to you?

    For me, it’s about building a relationship where honest communication can happen between both people, but also a level of mutual support and respect. I believe that a mentee can give back to the mentor just as much as the mentor gives to the mentee.

    How did you first meet or connect with your mentors?

    I don’t believe that I really have “any” mentors, at least not professionally. I have certainly had several strong supervisors to whom I’d ask questions, even after I had left the institution, but no one that I feel deeply connected to in the way that I envision I would be to a mentor. However, I do believe that I have (and still do) serve as a mentor to several people that I’ve worked with, both through formal supervisor or informally, because we worked alongside each other on committees or at the same institution.

    How do you sustain a mentoring relationship over time?

    I believe it takes a strong commitment to one another, a mutual commitment. I believe that if both aren’t invested in the relationship and each other, it’s not truly a mentorship.

  • David Russell

    What does mentorship mean to you?

    To me a mentorship is a relationship that I have with someone that I care about and look up to for one reason or another (typically work/extra-curricular related for purpose of this survey). I look to this person to share their experiences with me and seek advise from them on various topics, ranging from how to do my job better, to everyday life challenges.

    How did you first meet or connect with your mentors?

    I have been very fortunate in my experiences in connecting with mentors. Many of my mentors have been supervisors (some direct supervisors, some not) that I have really enjoyed working with and respected their commitment to their work. Through this, I have worked to make connections and build relationships with these people.

    How do you sustain a mentoring relationship over time?

    I think it’s about just continually making the effort. One of my former mentors has since graduated and moved onto a different chapter of their life, but we still stay connected via skype and facebook. Social media is a great tool to help sustain relationships with both friends and mentors who you may not have the opportunity to interact with often.

  • Matt Pistilli

    Stacy,

    looking forward to seeing the metaanalysis on this.

    What does mentorship mean to you?
    Mentorship is something that I look to offer or receive within the environments I find myself. Being mentored means that I have someone (or multiple someones) looking out for my next step – people who can praise the work I’ve done and my accomplishments and who can kick me in the backside when I’ve done something boneheaded – but not in a supervisory way. Someone with whom I can discuss things beyond work – someone who takes interest in my family, my life, my goals (professional and personal) and wants to help me attain all those things. Someone who does these things altruistically. When I mentor, I try to do the same thing to the extent that someone will allow me to do so.

    How did you first meet or connect with your mentors?

    I’ve been lucky to have supervisors and faculty members become these people for me. These were folks who saw something in me that could be brought out, highlighted, or shined for others to see. Folks – now friends – who wanted me to be more than who I was at that moment AND who want me to continue to grow beyond what I think are my boundaries and limitations. Friends who maybe have been where I’ve been (figuratively) and can offer advise and counsel on how to move forward, grow further, work harder. In all cases, they more or less chose me. My supervisors chose me to work for them. The faculty members of whom I speak chose me to be in their programs, chose to be on my committees, chose to participate in the things in which I was interested. I have not chosen any mentors to date… and I think this is significant.

    How do you sustain a mentoring relationship over time?

    Open communication. In order for my mentors to be able to mentor me effectively, I need them to know almost everything that’s going on that’s pertinent to our relationship and/or the areas for which they provide mentoring. With at least two of my mentors this often happens over food and outside the work environment (even if they are/were supervisors). I see one of my mentors regularly – sometimes its to watch a football game or grab a drink; other times it is so that we can discuss what it is that I need. Facebook is a big area here, and twitter is becoming more so for one of my mentors.

    *****

    I hope this helps. I really do look forward to your thoughts. Let me know if you want/need more or clarification. Thanks for the opportunity to contribute to this work.

  • http://beccaobergefell.com Becca Obergefell

    Thanks for bringing this up Stacy, it’s something I’ve been trying to think through recently.

    What does mentorship mean to you?
    My definition ebbs and flows a bit, depending on the relationship. I’ve known mentors who want a concrete, detailed plan to sustain the relationship (monthly calls, weekly lunches, whatever) and I appreciate this structure. But I’ve also found value in the organic nature of relationships, when I realize I’ve been mentored without even asking for it.

    How did you first meet or connect with your mentors?
    Most connections have formed because of supervisory relationships or proximity.

    How do you sustain a mentoring relationship over time?
    For me it’s a realistic balance of understanding that life gets busy, but that relationships matter. Intentional communication is key though– phone calls, text messages, emails, twitter direct messages–whatever. Just make sure to sustain a direct communication as often as you need it.. I’d echo Laurie “Knowing it is often a long term commitment lets many of them unfold slowly” (or at their own varied paces)

  • http://bryceehughes.blogspot.com Bryce Hughes

    Wow! You’ve received so many responses! I’ve been chatting with Lisa a bit about mentorship lately, and as I progress toward taking my next professional step and going for a full-time PhD, I can tell you I’ve been relying on mentors. So here are my thoughts:

    What does mentorship mean to you?

    To me, mentorship is like friendship, except that mentorship seems to have an explicit learning focus. While we do learn from our friends, we tend to take on mentors because they are people we aspire to be like or they do jobs we one day hope to perform. Lisa and I have been challenging this very directional structure of mentorship through our conversations, but I always believe that learning is at the heart of a mentor/mentee relationship. (Don’t forget, teachers can learn from their students!)

    How did you first meet or connect with your mentors?

    I have one that I got to know when I was an undergradaute student who played an important role in that experience. I asked her to submit an artifact for my portfolio for my Master’s degree where we needed a letter from a student affairs professional about our promise as a future professional. I also consider my graduate faculty advisor (and her husband, the former VP) to be mentors. I reached out to them with the question, “Do I look for a Job 2, or is it time for my PhD?” My advisor does the job I want to do one day, so I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to work with her. I also have a former pastor who I met when he was looking for an accompanist for his tiny Episcopal congregation. He has become a spiritual advisor to me as well as a friend (despite me being Catholic and him Episcopal-now-Lutheran, tee hee), and we reach out every now and again to reconnect. I have many others, but I suppose I don’t need to go into so much detail in a blog comment. :)

    How do you sustain a mentoring relationship over time?

    Wow, for the most part, I at a minimum reach out when I have major life news I need to share. Often the connection is subject to physical proximity, and of the three mentors I named only one is in my current geographical area (and he’s still about a 45-minute drive away!). I also reach out for advice–I think people like to be useful, particularly when they are invested in another person’s growth. That’s another piece to mentorship–a mentor is invested in your growth. I think it can go the same the other way, but a mentee may desire the support from their mentor in their own growth more than the mentor looks for support from their mentee. They have mentors of their own!

    Thank you for asking these questions Stacy! This was a great exercise.

    Bryce

  • http://about.me/joeginese Joe Ginese

    What does mentorship mean to you?

    It’s very much a title or role that is not just handed out to someone. I am always a bit weary with “mentor” programs because I don’t think you should apply to a program then be assigned a “mentor” because that role is not a job assigned but rather earned.

    Mentorship in my life has meant someone who can give a total objective, non-biased, totally blunt answer to questions, situations, or problems I have. They are trust worthy, honest, and realize the need to give attention when necessary.

    How did you first meet or connect with your mentors?

    They’ve been my supervisors so far in my career. I’ve been very lucky in that regard of having some outstanding professionals mold me and give me opportunities to mold myself while along the way giving life advice and guidance. So that relationship was very intentional in nature of having contact on a regular basis but it was the extra effort on each of our parts to build that trust and earn that mentoring connection.

    How do you sustain a mentoring relationship over time?

    I think this should vary person to person because everyone needs something different. I’d say that I sustain my mentoring relationship by sending life update e-mails once every few months just to stay up to date with things that Facebook doesn’t tell them. It’s been successful so far so I can’t complain too much about it, as much as I’d like more contact – neither of us have time for it.

    Thanks for the post Stacy – my brain needed some exercise and an excuse to focus on something other than orientation!

    Joe

  • Pingback: Faux Mentoring « The Student Affairs Collaborative

  • Pingback: Faux Mentoring | The SA Blog