NEUROLOGY FACULTY DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP SERIES: “Why is Good Faculty Mentoring so Critical for a Successful Promotion?”

Mentoring Expectations in Neurology Instructors and Assistant Professors in the department are expected to have at least one mentor or a mentoring team. Try to recruit a mentor or mentoring team within your first year in the Dept. Your mentors or members of your mentoring team may be faculty inside the department or both inside and outside the department. It is recommended that at least one mentor is inside the department. Mentoring team may not be permanent. Change is acceptable as your career goals develop. Meet at least twice a year with your mentors to look at your progress and discuss faculty development.

HOW DO I RECRUIT APPROPRIATE MENTORS? YOU MUST FIND A MENTOR OR BUILD A MENTORING TEAM THAT FITS YOUR NEEDS. MUST FIND THE RIGHT MATCH!!! Seek out for someone with similar scientific, clinical, or professional interests. Someone who has shown particular interest in your professional growth and success. Someone that you connect with. Someone you are comfortable with, not intimidated by. Evaluate interpersonal and professional interactions with others. Are these compatible with your personal attributes?? The Department will not assign mentors to junior faculty, because good mentor-mentee relationships are based on natural bonds between individuals that develop over time. Assigned mentoring responsibilities are usually not effective.

You MUST be the Leader of your Mentoring Team or Program You OWN your successful development in the Department. You MUST be actively involved in the process. Do not expect mentors to micro-manage your faculty development. You MUST be proactive and bring your mentor(s) or mentoring team together every 6 months to go over your achievements and plans forward in regard to your development. Be creative and use all resources available to take advantage of your mentoring team. Come to meetings well prepared.

Good Mentee’s Characteristics Be ambitious, self-motivated, independent Persevere in the face of challenges Be opened to explore new areas Take criticisms the right way Seek advice Meet deadlines Be respectful

Mentor’s Responsibilities TAKE TIME TO KNOW YOUR MENTEE. Be flexible in your mentoring style based on individual mentee’s needs, personal values, strengths, weaknesses, etc… Devote time, energy and resources to the mentoring relationship. Make yourself available to meet with your mentees. Develop a relationship of trust and openness with your mentees. Mentees must feel comfortable come to you for advice. Establish clear and honest goals and expectations with your mentees and make sure to follow through those during your regular meetings. Be aware of resources available that can benefit your mentees. Be an advocate for your mentee Put your mentees in the frame of mind where they can do their best Listen

TAKE-HOME MESSAGES ABOUT YOUR MENTOR OR MENTORING TEAM Good mentorship is one of the most important elements of a successful path towards promotion. You must be actively involved in finding your mentor(s). Mentor(s) must be well suited and devoted to your personal needs and goals. You must find the right match. You must start building your mentoring team early. YOU ARE THE LEADER OF YOUR MENTORING PROGRAM!!!!

Resources you must take advantage of to build a successful promotion packet? Your MENTOR or MENTORING team. This is a key resource you cannot do without. Neurology Faculty Development website http://neurology.emory.edu/faculty/faculty.development/index.html School of Medicine Faculty Development website http://med.emory.edu/faculty_dev/index.html Attend faculty development lectures offered by School of Medicine-Register early for SOM faculty development lectures http://med.emory.edu/faculty_dev/career-development/programs/fac-dev-lectures.html Attend bimonthly workshops organized by Neurology Faculty Development Committee Next session-Friday, January 11, 9:00 AM, EP12 Seminar Room “How to develop a successful Research Program?”