Looking at the daily business of many academic research mentors, one thing seems eerily absent: the availability and application of worthwhile tools to make best use of the time allotted to mentoring your mentees. Sure, there is the spreadsheet with all student projects, the self-developed guideline PDF with all ins and outs you could come… Read More
..so what’s next?
There are only few things more exhilarating than witnessing younger peers succeed. Not only because you empathise with their feeling of having accomplished something important. Rather, because you get a sense of how important past successes are for outlining and attempting future plans. Contributing to the success of a younger peer positively influences their outlook… Read More
Make it a learning race
My working hypothesis is… …when mentoring, your mentee will likely be quicker to learn. They are younger, younger people learn faster. Use that to your advantage.
Share to create trust
My working hypothesis is… …when mentoring, never underestimate the power of sharing your own world-view, challenges, successes, experiences, and failures.
Forget answering, start inspiring
My working hypothesis is… …when mentoring, be careful with the potential illusion that you are in the position to give actionable and appropriate advice. Instead, consider the value of inspiring your mentee to build the energy to find their own solutions.
Don’t be a passive mentor
My working hypothesis is… …when mentoring, never underestimate how busy a student’s life can be and how difficult it can be to build a mentoring relationship from the “weaker side of the table”.