Experts POol

Successful Exploration Through Mentoring

We shall not cease from exploration 
And the end of all our exploring 
Will be to arrive where we started 
And know the place for the first time. 

T. S. Eliot 

We are all explorers. Marquette was an explorer. Some of us have been at it a long time, some not so much.  Serving as a mentor is a chance to explore together, rather than alone. 

Modern explorers use tools. No matter the task or the career, certain interpersonal “tools” come in very handy. From my experience serving in the Marquette mentor program discussions the past five years, certain tools have been singled out as important for those of us in the program and for professional life beyond the program. These tools may seem very obvious at first glance, but oh, how we all struggle with them! From my discussions with mentees, here are some basic examples to consider: 

1. Communication. We tend to overestimate each other’s ability to process and understand new information.  What is obvious to me is not obvious to you. Check to make sure ideas are received as intended.   

2. Reliability. The professional world is built on trust and follow-through. Stick to the plan. Stay in touch. 

3. Timeliness. It’s related to reliability. Close communication loops quickly. Answer e-mails and texts. The clock can be an ally rather than a nemesis. 

4. Preparation. In a mentorship program, there is an essential role for spontaneity, but it can also leave important details blowing in the wind. Clear goals and agendas increase productivity. 

5. Safety. It’s related to communication. We will only say what’s really on our minds if it feels “safe” to do so. We need the kind of relationship where we can say what we really think. 

6. Interview Skills. This is something that many mentees have been concerned about. Talk about it, even practice. Interviews can be comfortable, even fun. 

7. Ownership. Last but not least, taking ownership may be the most important issue of all. Don’t wait for others to initiate. Take charge. 

Good luck to all of us this year as we go exploring together! 

Jim Casanova, Arts ’70, is an independent hospital and medical staff consultant in Delafield, Wis. He’s served in the MUAA Mentor Program since 2014-15. To learn more about the program, contact Dan DeWeerdt at daniel.deweerdt@marquette.edu