A leading practice that can create accountability
with Karen Malcolm and Debra Russell
- Mentoring as a relationship between equals providing ongoing professional development and a way to explore work in a deeper way
- How the Co-mentorship Happened:
- Monthly meetings via Skype or phone
- Time keeping: 30 mins each person
- Setting targets and priorities
- Person speaking outlines project: co-mentor asks clarifying questions
- Keeping notes and referring them to each month.
- Benefits
- Increased job satisfaction
- Greater momentum and consistency in project work – more accountability when there is a relationship of someone who is checking in on the work
- Setting specific target dates for completion of tasks
- Support for challenging complacency and finding innovative approaches
- Helpful to have a relationship with a colleague outside of particular communities
- Enhanced level of professional reflection
- Focused on the broader aspect of career development
- Formalizing a co-mentoring relationship
- Time commitment of one hour a month (within the needs of each person’s schedule)
- Initial discussion regarding the purpose of relationship
- Clear outlining of expectations
- Peer relationship: not hierarchical
- Mutual respect
- Sincere desire to further each other’s work
- Potential Pitfalls
- Not setting aside the needed time
- Become social rather than work oriented (Sometimes had to have a social call prior to professional call to allow for both the social relationship and professional relationship)
- One perceiving self as more knowledgeable – thinking that “I’m the better mentor.” So, it is important to have balance in that relationship and respect the unique talents that each person has.
- Defensiveness or attacking
Co-mentoring is a resource that does not cost anything other than time and can be a very beneficial for developing a professional relationship. It can work for people at all levels of their professional life. It can be a really good tool for developing reflective practice and critical thinking – as a method for breaking out of a sense of isolation.