The Elements of Mentoring

by W. Brad Johnson and Charles R. Ridley

• ISBN13: 9781403964014
• ISBN10: 1403964017
• Format: Trade Book
• Copyright: 2004-04-17
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Summary

Patterned after Strunk and White's classic The Elements of Style, this reference concisely summarizes the substantial existing research on the art and science of mentoring. The Elements of Mentoring reduces this wealth of published material on the topic to the fifty most important and pithy truths for supervisors in all fields. These explore what excellent mentors do, what makes an excellent mentor, how to set up a successful mentor-protg relationship, how to work through problems that develop between mentor and protg, what it means to mentor with integrity, and how to end the relationship when it has run its course. Succinct and comprehensive, this is a must-have for any mentor or mentor-to-be.

Author Biography

W. Brad Johnson is Assistant Professor of Psychology at the U.S. Naval Academy and a faculty associate in the Graduate School of Business and Education at Johns Hopkins University. Charles R. Ridley is Professor of Counseling Psychology and Associate Dean for Research at the Indiana University graduate school.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	xi
Preface	xiii
What Excellent Mentors Do: Matters of Skill	1	(42)
Select Your Proteges Carefully
Know Your Proteges
Expect Excellence (and Nothing Else)
Affirm, Affirm, Affirm, and Then Affirm Some More
Provide Sponsorship
Be a Teacher and a Coach
Encourage and Support
Offer Counsel in Difficult Times
Protect When Necessary
Stimulate Growth with Challenging Assignments
Give Proteges Exposure and Promote Their Visibility
Nurture Creativity
Provide Correction---Even When Painful
Narrate Growth and Development
Self-Disclose When Appropriate
Accept Increasing Friendship and Mutuality
Teach Faceting
Be an Intentional Model
Display Dependability
Traits of Excellent Mentors: Matters of Style and Personality	43	(20)
Exude Warmth
Listen Actively
Show Unconditional Regard
Tolerate Idealization
Embrace Humor
Do Not Expect Perfection
Attend to Interpersonal Cues
Be Trustworthy
Respect Values
Do Not Stoop to Jealousy
Arranging the Mentor--Protege Relationship: Matters of Beginning	63	(24)
Carefully Consider the ``Match''
Clarify Expectations
Define Relationship Boundaries
Consider Protege Relationship Style
Describe Potential Benefits and Risks
Be Sensitive to Gender
Be Sensitive to Race and Ethnicity
Plan for Change at the Outset
Schedule Periodic Reviews or Evaluations
Knowing Thyself as a Mentor: Matters of Integrity	87	(22)
Consider the Consequences of Being a Mentor
Practice Self-Care
Be Productive
Make Sure You Are Competent
Hold Yourself Accountable
Respect the Power of Attraction
Accept the Burden of Power
Practice Humility
Never Exploit Proteges
When Things Go Wrong: Matters of Restoration	109	(16)
Above All, Do No Harm
Slow Down the Process
Tell the Truth
Seek Consultation
Document Carefully
Dispute Your Irrational Thinking
Welcoming Change and Saying Goodbye: Matters of Closure	125	(10)
Welcome Change and Growth
Accept Endings
Find Helpful Ways to Say Goodbye
Mentor as a Way of Life
References	135	(8)
Index	143