Graduate and Postdoctoral Development Network (GPDN)’s Post

Mentorship can be a powerful tool for personal and professional growth, but many struggle with the formal structure of traditional mentor-mentee relationships. The key is to be open to both learning from experienced individuals as well as sharing your own wisdom, whether through official or unofficial mentoring arrangements! https://hubs.li/Q02Xt-PH0

Studies and anecdotal examples show how mentorship quite literally can change lives and careers. But for a mentoring relationship to be successful, mentors need to know their mentoring style. Let’s look at the 8 different types of mentors. Which one are you?

A good mentor will incite curiosity in a mentee. Curiosity is essential for learning and learning enhances engagement. Is this the year to participate in a mentoring program? Or to implement a mentoring program? #mentoringprogram #employeewellbeing #psychologicalwellbeing #psychosocialrisk

Mentorship goes beyond just guidance—it has the potential to completely transform a mentee’s professional trajectory, helping them build their career resilience and make their way to the stars. Read to explore four simple ways to deepen your mentorship connections and put both parties on a greater path to success: https://lnkd.in/eqEefNWs

Why Your Mentor’s Opinion Might Be Completely Wrong" "Think your mentor has all the answers? Sometimes, they don’t—and here’s why." Mentors play a crucial role in shaping our growth and decisions, but it’s important to remember they’re not infallible. Their advice is often rooted in their experiences, which may not fully align with your unique situation, goals, or challenges. Blindly following their guidance without consideration can lead to decisions that don’t serve your best interests. Mentorship works best when advice is treated as a guide, not a rulebook, and when you critically evaluate how it fits into your context. Why It Happens: · Cognitive Bias Can Cloud Judgement: Mentors, like anyone else, may unintentionally project their biases or personal preferences onto their advice, making it less objective. · They Might Not Fully Understand Your Context: Without knowing all the nuances of your role, goals, or challenges, even well-meaning advice might miss the mark. · Your Goals or Challenges May Differ from Theirs: Mentors might provide advice based on the paths they’ve walked, but your journey could require different approaches and solutions. · Their Perspective May Be Outdated: Industries and practices evolve rapidly. Advice rooted in years-old experiences may not reflect current trends or innovations. What to Do: · Question Advice That Doesn’t Feel Right: If something doesn’t align with your instincts or context, ask clarifying questions or explore alternative perspectives. · Seek Additional Opinions When in Doubt: A second or third opinion from other mentors, peers, or experts can provide a well-rounded view of the situation. · Adapt Guidance to Fit Your Unique Context: Treat advice as a starting point. Adjust and tailor it to your specific challenges, industry, or personal style. · Use Mentorship as a Guide—Not a Rulebook: Mentorship is about support, not dictation. Combine your mentor’s insights with your own critical thinking and expertise. Summary: Your mentor’s advice isn’t gospel—it’s guidance shaped by their experiences, which may not always align with your unique needs. Recognizing that mentors are not infallible empowers you to critically evaluate their input, adapt it to your situation, and seek additional perspectives when necessary. This approach ensures that mentorship remains a tool for growth rather than a limitation. Trust your instincts, ask questions, and make your mentorship journey yours. Follow us and visit our website, https://lnkd.in/gjv_XXH9 for more actionable strategies on navigating mentorship challenges and maximizing your growth potential! 😊

🤝🚀 Elevating Mentorship: Explore the power of trust and deep connections for effective mentoring. #ProfessionalGrowth #MentoringExcellence #DeepMentorConnections #MentorIntelligence Uncover the secrets to nurturing lasting mentor-mentee bonds: https://lnkd.in/gmu7DRD8

This week, Legacy Excellence Mentorship Program kickstarted and I had the privilege of speaking on Module One - Understanding Mentoring. Below are some few insights from what we learnt. What Mentorship Is NOT 🚫 Not a Guarantee of Success—mentors provide guidance and resources, but success ultimately depends on the mentee's commitment and effort. 🚫 Not About Hierarchy—mentorship is a partnership, not a top-down relationship. 🚫 Not Parenting—mentors nurture growth but respect the mentee’s independence. 🚫 Not One-Size-Fits-All—each mentorship relationship must be tailored to the mentee’s unique context. 🚫 Not a Quick Fix—mentorship is a process requiring sustained effort over time. What Mentorship IS ✅ A Calling to Fulfill Purpose—mentorship transforms influence into intentional action. ✅ A Relational Experience—it empowers mentees through shared knowledge, resources, and networks. ✅ A Developmental Relationship—mentors guide, support, and encourage mentees to set and achieve meaningful goals. ✅ A Holistic Journey—mentorship fosters self-discovery, professional growth, and personal development. ✅ A Platform for Legacy—it enables mentors to inspire and empower others, leaving an enduring impact across generations. The Motive of Mentoring is Love ❤️ Love is the Driving Force—mentorship, when rooted in love, becomes an act of selfless service. The Character of Mentoring is integrity 🔑 Integrity is Foundational—mentorship thrives on honesty, transparency, and ethical behavior. The Goal of Mentoring is empowerment 🚀 Empowerment—mentorship helps individuals take ownership of their growth, build resilience, and achieve their full potential. What Qualifies You to Be a Mentor 💖 A Heart to See Others Grow—mentors are driven by a passion for fostering positive change. 📚 A Willingness to Learn—mentorship is a two-way relationship of growth and discovery. 🕰 A Commitment to Sacrifice—mentors dedicate time, energy, and resources to support their mentees. 🧭 The Quest for Personal Growth—mentors who continually strive to be better exemplify the values they teach. Who can you mentor today? How can your influence create a legacy that outlives you? Let us be intentional about investing in others and creating a ripple effect of growth, empowerment, and transformation, because mentorship is the cornerstone for societal development. It’s not late to register. https://lnkd.in/gcS_a_4y

Fundamental understanding questions are certainly helpful for individuals seeking development through mentorship. From there, mentors and mentees are responsible for the mentorship agreement on topics, goals, and timing.

Yesterday (27 October) was National Mentoring Day. As someone that has benefitted from mentoring, both formally and informally, and both as a mentee and a mentor, I want to use this opportunity to share some of my thoughts on mentoring. 📝 There is no one way to do mentoring - find out what works for you. I have been part of many different types of mentoring already in my career. From taking part in formal programmes with Cambridge University Engineers' Association (CUEA), to talking to friends with a different point of view that I value, each brings their own benefits and learning when and how to use each has been a bit of trial and error. 🌱 You do not need to be 'senior' to have valuable advice to offer Like many, I initially thought that mentors have lots of experience and mentees have significantly less. However, after doing a few talks while still a student and finding that people wanted my advice because I had tackled a problem that they were about to face for the first time, I realised quickly that you can provide value to others just by sharing any experience you have that is relevant to the question/challenge at hand - this can be useful to people with more or less overall 'experience' than you and can bring a different way of thinking about things. 🤝 You can have a bigger impact than you might think Mentoring is not just about helping other people achieve individual success. There are mentoring programmes all over the place with wider goals than individual ladder-climbing. A great example is the The Social Mobility Foundation that I volunteer with as a mentor. This programme provides mentors and personal statement checking in several professions, including engineering, for ambitious young people who face structural barriers in education and work because of their socioeconomic background. Perhaps 2025 is the year you offer up your skills in a mentoring programme, or seek to add some structure to your relationship with a trusted advisor? I'd like to take this opportunity to also thank my current CUEA mentor, Michael Dann, and thank those that have provided informal sage advice in response to some of my more existential questions over the years (in particular Ed Broadhead, Aleksi Tukiainen, Bengt Cousins-Jenvey, Steven Adams CEng FIMechE and Catherine Tilley - among many others!) #NationalMentoringDay #mentoring