Mentoring: Becoming One to Find One or, Finding One to Become One Gregory L. Kearns, Pharm.D., Ph.D. Chairman, Department of Medical Research Associate Chairman, Department of Pediatrics Chief, Division of Pediatric Pharmacology and Medical Toxicology

Dr. Samuel Lux on Receiving the ASH Mentor Award…… What does this award mean to you? This award means more to me than any other I’ve received. (It) reflects not only my success, but the success of the many men and women I’ve had the chance to work with over my career…… That’s the unique joy of mentoring. You gain pleasure from the success of others….. You can recognize the successful mentor because they can’t help bragging about their proteges.

Dr. Samuel Lux on Receiving the ASH Mentor Award…… How important is mentoring for trainees? I think it is vital. I suppose it’s possible to forge a successful career on your own but it is surely harder, and I would bet less fun. Most of us owe a large measure of our success to the efforts of others. Certainly, I do. My success is due in large measure to (my mentor’s) unflagging attention to my career.

What the mentee initially expects…. To be told… – Where to be – When to be where – What to do – How to do it – How to act – How to talk – What to think – How to succeed

What the (inexperienced) mentor first expects from his/her mentee…… Superior intellect Well developed sense of self Maturity (personal and professional) Excellent communication skills Self-determination Self-direction Synthetic reasoning Pre-identified career goals

The mentor should be able to…. Manage learning experiences in the workplace for the mentee Manage the development of the relationship with the mentee Recognize and assist with appropriate learning strategies for the individual workplace and mentee Facilitate learning Invest time and effort in the mentee and program Maintain regular contact with the mentee

Mentors should also know.. Different learning processes that a learner may use How workplace environments affect learning How mentoring can affect workplace learning Guided learning strategies and techniques Good communication skills Good counseling skills Outcomes expected of the mentee in a learning program Subject matter expertise The value of sensitivity

A great mentor is….. Advocate Coach Teacher Guide Role Model Valued friend Door opener Benevolent authority Available Resource Cheerful critic Career enthusiast

Characteristics of a Good Protégé…. Be self-motivated Be pliable in your thinking Exhibit a desire to learn and develop Be a team player and recognize that there is not an “I” in TEAM Be dedicated to developing communication skills Let your actions model the success you aspire to

Roles and Responsibilities of the Protégé… Identifying and assessing priorities and mentoring expectations Doing a self-assessment of skills they have and the ones they desire Clarifying and defining goals that are realistic and challenging Developing a mutually approved agreement on expectations Being open and receptive to guidance and coaching Being honest with the mentor Keeping the mentor informed of changes in needs/expectations Accepting the reality that needs and expectations change with growth Accept accountability and responsibility for actions

Mentor Selection – Multiple Choices…. Accomplishment vs. Acclaim Expertise vs. Experience Personality vs. Persona Respected vs. Respectable Evidence of – –A learned teacher –An active learner –A doer –An excellent communicator –Effective leadership –Scholarly productivity –Uncompromised integrity IT’S A DIFFICULT BUT CRITICAL CHOICE

Dr. Samuel Lux on Receiving the ASH Mentor Award…… What advice would you give others about mentoring? First, be a friend and an interested colleague of your mentees – someone they can come to whenever they do something interesting. Second, focus on their strengths – emphasize those in career choices. Make them shoot high and do high quality work, but be a cheerful and constructive critic. Third, be their advocate in getting important trips, talks, session chairmanships, and the other little plums of academic life.

Dr. Samuel Lux on Receiving the ASH Mentor Award…… What advice would you give others about mentoring? Fourth, protect their time but make sure they take on responsibilities that are necessary for the careers they Desire. Fifth, don’t try to make them a clone of yourself. This is, I think, one of the biggest mistakes. Sixth, stick with them. Being a mentor is a lifetime responsibility, even after they move on to other institutions.

Mentoring requires.. Mutual trust, developed as a result of mutual respect Commitment to growth and discovery through support and challenge Openness to give and receive help and feedback Commitment to action and results, the ability to make it happen

What’s in it for the mentor? Enhanced self esteem Enhanced status in the organization Career advancement Job enrichment Motivation Recognition as a developer of people Re-kindled interest and motivation in work Close relationship with the mentee Own developmental needs met Extra resource (the mentee)

For it to work……… The mentor and mentee must both work at it!

Never, never, never, never give up. Winston Churchill