Mentoring is a long proven process for helping people develop skills and confidence to succeed in their jobs and life. While which role a participant will primarily be in may be fixed, in reality, the relationship is more fluid. Every person brings knowledge and skills that can help the others.
This BoF focuses on understanding what everyone brings and help develop the skills and knowledge to be successful in either role. Being a successful mentor or protégé requires time and dedication first and foremost, but also benefits from some skills and techniques. This BoF start with a short overview presentation followed by group activities to help initiate and sustain mentoring relationships from both sides. With both mentors and protégés in the same session, both groups can understand how to best help and learn from each other.
Example activities include how to listen and hear what people aren’t saying, how to keep relationships alive and revitalize ones that have gone stale, and how to support in a way that shifts attention away from yourself and onto the ones that should be visible. Other topics related to connecting, understanding, not judging, and helping even when you don’t know what to do are all things that can be covered given time.
We are pleased to welcome WHPC Global Mentorship Advisor, Jay Lofstead, as the BoF Chair.