ALA Mentoring Webinar:A webinar on practical steps to start, stop or improve your mentoring

relationship.

Kathel Dunn, PhD

National Library of Medicine

Mentor

Mentee

Practical Steps

Go: Start and Improve

Activities for Mentees:Questions to ask or Get them to tell you a story

• Ask mentor how s/he decided to be a librarian• Ask mentor how s/he came to take present position• Ask mentor what projects s/he is currently working

on• Ask mentor what challenges s/he is facing right now• Ask mentor what were tough interview questions s/he

had and how s/he handled them• Ask mentor about a mistake that s/he made early in

his or her career and how s/he fixed it

Activities for Menteesor, Give Them Something to Do

• Ask the mentor to review your short bio of yourself

• Ask the mentor to review your resume• Ask the mentor what classes s/he would

recommend taking• Ask the mentor for the names of people in X

or Y area you would like to speak with or learn from

Activities for Mentees

• Double-date – bring along a colleague (ask first)

• Shadowing – in person or by phone (sit in on a conference call and debrief with mentor afterward)

• Conference attendance • Share your professional dream

Caution

Practical Steps

• Introduction• Question to ask• Assignment for mentor

Mentors

• Reflect on your professional strengths• Reflect on your professional weaknesses• Ask questions of the mentee–What classes are “hot”?–What projects are they working on that they like?–Why did they choose to become a librarian?

Stop: Ending the Relationship

Breaking it Off

• Appreciate time/effort/willingness to share• But – too busy/would like to work with a

different mentor who has different experience• Close – be clear that you’re ending it & say

thank you

Mentee to Mentor

Dear Mentor, I so appreciate the time you’ve spent in mentoring me on the academic library world. Your insights have helped me make some decisions as to my next steps. In the next few months, I have decided to focus on school and would like to bring this formal part of our mentor relationship to a close. I wouldn’t want to leave you hanging wondering what was happening with me. Thank you. -- Grateful Mentee

Mentor to Mentee

Dear Mentee, It’s been a pleasure to get to know you over these few months and a I’ve enjoyed learning from you and being able to share my expertise. In the next few weeks I will be taking on additional projects that will not allow me to give my full attention to mentoring you. I’m going to close out our formal mentor/mentee relationship now though I would always welcome hearing what your career plans are. I’m glad to have met someone who is as committed to the profession as I am. -- Grateful Mentor

Start, Improve, Stop

• Start: know your responsibilities (driving relationship, reflecting on career)

• Improve: introduce, ask questions that elicit stories, advice, give and receive activities

• Stop: ABC – appreciate, be clear about plans, close it out with clarity