dont know what i want to do for work
Recently, nosotros discussed the value in request questions to go on a conversation going. What happens when you don't know where to get-go?
One common reply I've heard when I inquire mentees if they've met with their mentors is, "I would, but I don't know what to talk about." Well, that surely can brand keeping a chat going quite a challenge.
When pressed, though, mentees will disclose a variety of topics they'd similar to learn nigh, skills they'd like to develop or areas in which they'd like to amend. You tin nigh hear the "click" when they realize they tin can use these as discussion topics with their mentor. Someone simply has to inquire that question, "What practise y'all want?" That someone can be a mentor, a peer or preferably, oneself.
Answering this question is one of the first–and vital–steps in launching a mentoring relationship. That's not to say that information technology is an easy question to reply, though. I have a tough enough time answering that question when information technology's time to program dinner, let solitary thinking about what I want from my career and how a mentor could help! Luckily, at that place is a wealth of resources out at that place to help you lot get started in setting your mentoring goals. While many of these were devised for postdocs and early career researchers, the concepts apply to any field. A few quick steps can help whatsoever mentee go started downwards their mentoring journey.
Think nearly where you lot'd like to become and what can assist become you there.
Sound trite? It is. But that's about as bones as information technology gets. You must know this about yourself earlier you can reap the benefits of mentoring. For postdocs, this might be an piece of cake question to reply, as they accept a definite need to get to some side by side stage of their careers. Mentees at other career levels might have to ponder this a lilliputian more. But, what if yous don't desire to "go" anywhere? That's okay. Maybe there are things you'd like to work on to grow professionally and personally in your current role.
Common topics mentees seek to work on with their mentors often include communication skills, leadership skills, networking, piece of work/life balance, learning organizational culture and management skills. Researchers may prioritize bailiwick-specific skills that will help them become independent–proposal writing, lab management, publishing, collaboration. Whatever comes to listen, write information technology downward.
Do a self-check to see what your current comfort level is with each topic.
How confident are you with your communication skills? Does writing grant proposals or publications scare you under the table? How much do y'all know nigh managing budgets or directing the work of others?
Some tools to assist you gauge your level of confidence include:
- National Postdoctoral Association Core Competencies
- Science Careers MyIDP Skills Assessment
- University of Wisconsin ICTR Mentee Self Assessment Questionnaire
While the last three were adult for researchers, they cover global transferable skills such equally management, communication, leadership, networking, and managing conflict.
Write questions to ask your mentor about each topic and script your next meeting.
Permit's say, for case, you lot've been told you lot have leadership potential and want to build on this. You've been reading books and articles on leadership and accept been post-obit several influencers on LinkedIn. When you sit down to write out goals for building leadership skills, you get overwhelmed and don't know where to kickoff. You lot feel confident in some areas, only less and then in others. You might want to commencement your next mentoring chat by saying something like, "I'd like to work on leadership development. This seems like such a wide topic, though. Can we spend some time discussing key leadership skills and identify some attainable goals I can piece of work towards?"
Or, maybe y'all want to be more constructive at networking. After your self-assessment, you seem pretty confident with your ability concord technical conversations with colleagues in your field. You lot are aware that your field is becoming more interdisciplinary and want to adapt and grow in this management. Talking to people in other fields is a mystery to you, though. You might consider starting your next mentoring chat past asking your mentor to talk almost his or her journey and how they've met people and built relationships throughout their career.
Bring information technology all together past planning your mentoring meeting.
Quick guide for planning mentoring meetings. Click on prototype for link to table in PowerPoint.
Take this data–your goals, cess, potential starter questions–and programme your next mentor meeting. And don't merely plan, schedule the coming together and go!
A little flake of planning can get a long fashion in achieving your mentoring goals. As you tin can see, questions are simply every bit important in starting the conversation as they are in standing the conversation!
Additional Resources:
National Clan of Colleges and Employers guide for mentees (includes starter questions for a host of topics)
Tip Sheets for Mentors and Mentees
Questions to Inquire and Points to Ponder for Mentors and Mentees
What's a Mentor/ee to Do?
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Source: https://blogs.anl.gov/mentoring/2020/08/07/id-meet-with-my-mentor-but-i-dont-know-what-to-talk-about/
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