About Mentoring

Mentoring of junior faculty at Stanford is integral to scientific and clinical success.

Mentoring junior colleagues into the complex roles of faculty in academic medicine is not only a good cultural practice, but is required by university policy.

Effective faculty mentoring relationships have three prerequisites:

clear articulation of what each person expects from the relationship at the onset,
deliberate intention to mentor and openness to receive feedback and advice, and
non-competitiveness between the mentor and mentees.

What is Mentoring?

Mentoring is a collaborative relationship with a defined, mutually agreed upon purpose. Mentors are commonly understood to fulfill two functions: career assistance, to enhance learning the ropes and preparing for academic success and promotion; and psychosocial support, to enhance a sense of competence, belonging at Stanford, clarity of identity, and self-efficacy.

These two functions often stem from different roots and satisfy different outcomes. Faculty mentors serve many roles and no one mentor fits all possible roles. Many faculty mentoring activities at Stanford occur through these multiple roles, in addition to formal programs and group mentoring.

What is a Mentor?

Mentors are not counselors, supervisors, coaches, teachers or therapists. Mentors:

Role model by demonstrating the behaviors, attitudes, values and ethics that lead to success at Stanford.
Challenge mentees and encourage new ways of thinking, research directions, and push mentee to stretch his/her capability.
Sponsor by opening doors that would otherwise be closed.
Give exposure and visibility by facilitating professional exposure and access to talks, and similar opportunities.
Protect mentee by acting as a buffer and help with damage control.

Accept and affirm by supporting their mentees and showing respect for their goals and interests.
Give feedback by reviewing their mentee’s accomplishments and advise on career progress.
Care by demonstrating concern for the well-being of their mentees.
Counsel by helping their mentee deal with difficult dilemmas (e.g., work life integration, administrative mishaps, and difficult decisions).