SP0196 What to Expect from your Mentor and how to Optimize the Mentoring Process. (23rd January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gay, R. E.
• Is Part Of: Annals of the rheumatic diseases. Volume 72:Supplement 3(2013)
• Page Start: A44
• Page End: A45
• Publication Date: 2014-01-23
• Subjects: Rheumatism -- Periodicals; 616.723005
• DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-eular.196
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-4967

Abstract

Abstract : What to expect from your mentor and how to optimize the mentoring process Mentorship refers to a developmental relationship between a more experienced mentor and a less experienced partner referred to as a protégé or mentee - a person guided and protected by a more prominent person. And no matter if a person is very young in his or her career or has already some experience, there is still the need for a mentor. It is important to have a person who helps to sort out the big stones of challenge from the gravel, as Stephen R. Covey explains in his book "The 7 habits of highly effective people" (1992 Covey Leadership Center, Inc). There are two types of mentoring relationships: formal and informal. In well-designed formal mentoring programs, there are program goals, schedules, training (for mentors and mentees), and evaluation. Mentors inspire their mentee to reach their goal and support them on their way. A study shows that, in institutions that have a formal mentoring program, employees stay in average twice as long as in institutions without mentoring. Mentoring means provision of: resources, opportunities, advice and protection (David L. Sackett, Clin Invest Med 2001, 24:94-100). Ressources: - space to work - productivity enhancing equipment - money to go to courses and participate in meetings Opportunities: - to carry out review of manuscripts and grants - to accompany mentors to meetings of ethics and grant review committees - to accept requests from prominent, reviewed journals to write editorials, comments or essays (together with the mentor) - to become lead author of such papers - to learn how to network properly Advice: - Creativity: a mentor should encourage the mentee to be creative, for example, to use lateral or horizontal thinking, beside vertical thinking (Hauser MJ, Feinberg D. Problem solving revisited. J Psychiatr Nurs Ment Health Serv. 15(10):13-17 Oct 1977) - Fairness: to connect up with other researchers and to be fair! (Aristotle) - Honesty: to be honest about results - Active listening: should focus on the mentee's development as independent thinkers - Learn to prioritize Protection: - rehearse the presentations in front of the mentor and the team - to recognise and respond appropriately to critical letters from editors and reviewers for publications There are important mentoring programs from different institutions: Articulum fellowship; EULAR: Objectives 2012; EMEUNET. Mentoring and networking always start in the team. Disclosure of Interest: None Declared