Successful Mentoring Relationships

for Career Development

SPC Conference May 2014

Mentalists

Neal Fisch

Information Security Officer, Director,

Enterprise Services and Security

California State University, Channel Islands

David Seidl

Sr Director, Campus Tech Services

University of Notre Dame

Theresa Semmens

Chief IT Security Officer

North Dakota State University

Poll: Do you want to be a

mentee?

Yes, I do

Maybe, tell me more

No, I don’t

As a mentee …

Do you have clear expectations?

Can you communicate those expectations?

Can you stay flexible and have fun?

Are you able to create goals with milestones and

deliverables?

Can you explain to your mentor your preferred learning

style?

Can you be realistic?

Can you listen and contribute to the discussion?

As a mentee ...

Accept that your mentor will not have all the answers?

Accept constructive feedback?

Set aside time for self-reflection?

Evaluate and celebrate progress?

Be consistent and reliable?

Provide updates and feedback after the mentoring is

complete?

Say thank you and pay it forward?

Poll: Do you want to be a

mentor?

Yes, I am interested

I am thinking about it, tell me more

No, I’m just here to support the panelists

As a mentor...

Have a clear understanding of why you want to be a

mentor

Mentor with a realistic assessment of your skills and

experience

Provide clear expectations for your mentee

Be flexible in changing expectations/plans

Create goals with milestones and deliverables

Adapt feedback to your mentee’s learning style

As a mentor...

Be realistic about scheduling regular meetings

Advise and counsel on what you know; admit what you

don’t know

Recognize mentee’s strengths and weaknesses

Offer constructive feedback

Evaluate progress

Support and celebrate mentee’s success

Demonstrate consistency and reliability

As a mentor...

Provide an evaluation of the experience

Thank the mentee

Repeat the mentoring process with others

Have fun

Lessons learned from last year’s

mentors/mentees

And…a few stories

The mentoring program at a glance

25 mentors are currently

active, some with multiple

mentees.

49 people volunteered to

be mentors

66 people expressed

interest in finding a mentor

35 mentees have been

matched (some have

graduated onwards!)

Success: 81% found it valuable

Mentoring: What Works

Poll: Is your

mentor/mentee

relationship successful?

Yes

No

Not sure

Poll: What do you need

from a mentor?

Technical advice/guidance

Career growth tips

Insight and counseling

Other (free-form)

When Mentoring Fails:

Converting Mentees and Mentors to

Mentals

Where mentoring breaks down

Problems: Matching Mentors to

Mentees and vice versa

“The match seemed like a real stretch”

“I’m technical, he/she isn’t”

“My mentor and I just couldn’t build a relationship”

“Very different institutions”

“Life intervened”

“Commitment”

The goal is to provide a successful relationship where

both benefit from the match.

Don’t be afraid to admit the match is working

Have a heartfelt discussion with the mentor/mentee.

Notify EDUCAUSE that it’s not working and why.

EDUCAUSE will re-assign the mentor/mentee with

someone else.

Do an evaluation so the process can be improved.

Problem Solution

Successful Mentees Set expectations

Be available

Provide encouragement

Provide resources

Rinse, lather, repeat

Successful Mentors Schedule a regular time to talk

Keep commitments

Be specific with expectations - follow up with

questions and discussion

Ask for resources

Pay it forward

Successful Mentoring Relationships

for Career Development

Questions?