Hello NSGConnect members-
We hope that this finds you all well and everyone is practicing appropriate socially distancing. This is the first of our NSGConnect SPARK! Memos for this year as we are going to a quarterly format.
Enjoy, Stay Healthy, and Happy Mentoring!
NSGConnect Spark!
This quarterly email is sent to NSGConnect members to inspire self-reflection and discussions with colleagues relating to professional development topics including leadership, self-care, research, and many more. As a member of NSGConnect, add your thoughts to the NSGConnect Discussion Forum and visit the NSGConnect community page to find out other ways you can engage with the program! You can also utilize the NSGConnect Library for additional resources. We welcome your feedback on these memos at wdinonno@natera.com or salma.nassef@bcm.edu.
How to Be an Amazing Mentor
"A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself." --- Oprah Winfrey
TedTalk Spotlight
Kenneth Ortiz "How to be a great mentor"
https://www.ted.com/talks/kenneth_ortiz_how_to_be_a_great_mentor
Everybody agrees that mentorship is critical to the success of corporate companies and organizations, yet few discuss what should be done to improve their mentorship process. Kenneth Ortiz shares his thoughts and wisdom on what is needed to develop successful mentor relationships to raise up the next level of leaders around us.
Four Key Qualities of Good Mentor
- Someone who is willing to spend the time to help others: Don't be afraid to invite your mentee into your life/work to observe you!
- Someone with a plan: First ask your mentee what their goals are and then mold your discussion and mentee tasks around these goals.
- Someone who is encouraging and positive toward others: Be conscious to praise the mentee's choices and behaviors over natural talents.
- Someone who knows how to bring correction and instruction with clarity when needed: Be kind, bold, and clear when providing constructive criticism. Utilize the phrase, "this is a good way, but there is a better way to achieve this goal".
Self-Reflection/Discussion
- Good mentoring rarely just happens. It develops from reflection, an understanding of your unique qualities as well as your professional strengths and weaknesses. Take a moment to reflect on your professional strengths and weaknesses.
- What traits do you use with your patients that would also make you a great mentor?
- It is important to take the time at the beginning of the relationship to not only determine your mentee's goals, but to also get to know your mentee. View this as an opportunity to meet someone new and expand your network.
- The speaker quoted that "Good is the enemy of best". Think of a time in your life that you allowed good to be the enemy of best. How would you change that time?
Additional Resources
By Keith Ferrazzi and Tahl Raz
Do you want to get ahead in life?
Climb the ladder to personal success?
The secret, master networker Keith Ferrazzi claims, is in reaching out to other people. As Ferrazzi discovered early in life, what distinguishes highly successful people from everyone else is the way they use the power of relationships--so that everyone wins.
In "Never Eat Alone," Ferrazzi lays out the specific steps--and inner mindset--he uses to reach out to connect with the thousands of colleagues, friends, and associates on his Rolodex, people he has helped and who have helped him.
This quarter's SPARK! Memo brought to you by Wendy DiNonno with the editing help of Karen Corneliussen and Salma Nassef.
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Wendy DiNonno, CGC
Chair NSGConnect
757-303-5074
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