Always Learning from Each Other

Document Type

Contribution to Book

Publication Date

2023

Publisher

Springer

Source Publication

Mentoring in Nursing through Narrative Stories Across the World

Source ISSN

9783031252044

Original Item ID

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-25204-4_28

Abstract

Over the course of one’s career, mentors can and often do change; likewise, the nature of a high-quality mentoring relationship evolves and changes over time. Mentors are vitally important for career development whether you lead an organization, business unit, classroom, clinic, department, unit, or team. There are two broad types of mentoring approaches: informal and formal. Formal mentoring programs are typically characterized by mentors being assigned to newer, less experienced employees for a finite period. Informal mentoring is voluntary, career oriented, longer-term, takes a broader view of the individual, and the “protégé” has already identified career development needs prior to entering the mentoring relationship. Informal mentoring includes a more senior person who has “been there before.” Mentors facilitate, teach, and can open doors to opportunities that otherwise might be out of reach to the protégé. Traditional mentoring is often seen as a one-way relationship, but relational mentoring is characterized by a two-way relationship and personal identification. Personal identification happens when the mentor “sees a former version of myself” in a protégé and the protégé tells a story of career success which includes “seeing a future version of myself” in a mentor. As our relational mentoring has evolved, we no longer see former or futures selves, we see friendships and peer-based relationships. Our stories typify relational mentoring, one of the most effective ways for individuals to receive the valuable guidance, resources, and support needed to help them advance in their careers.

Comments

"Always Learning from Each Other," in Mentoring in Nursing through Narrative Stories Across the World. Eds. Nancy Rollins Gantz and Thóra B. Hafsteinsdóttir. Cham: Springer, 2023: 201-209. DOI.

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS