Mentoring is a two-way street that benefits all parties involved – both personally and professionally.

The benefits of becoming a mentor

When another individual sees you – your character, passions, and ambitions – and wants to emulate you, it’s a great honor. But being a mentor does not mean you are to turn your mentee into a replication of yourself. Rather, your goal is to help them to become a better version of themselves.

Helping others invariably helps you, too. As a mentor, you build leadership skills through guiding your mentee on their journey of advancing their skills and career. At the same time, mentoring stimulates personal reflection and growth. You’ll begin to evaluate and improve your skills alongside your mentee, who has given you the opportunity to prove your skills are beneficial to others – which is a satisfying and worthwhile journey.

The benefits of becoming a mentee

Entering into a mentoring partnership should not be taken lightly as a mentee. Your chosen mentor is taking the time out of their busy schedule to help you advance your skills and take strides towards accomplishing your goals. Having someone you admire help you in your efforts to succeed is great motivation.

As a mentee, you will receive valuable insight, advice, and knowledge from your mentor. For this opportunity to be truly worthwhile, you should have an open mind and be willing to learn from the guidance your mentor is providing. The steps your mentor takes to help you further your skills will stimulate your personal reflection, just as your ideas stimulate theirs. These steps work to improve your communication skills and provide you with new opportunities to manage new ideas and concepts.

Having a mentor also represents a great opportunity to grow your personal network. Your mentor may introduce you to new people who have the potential to help you accomplish your goals, or give you the ability to help them in return. Again, mentoring is a two-way street.

Characteristics of a good mentor

Anyone can be a good mentor – you just need the right attitude and be willing to commit to the process and partnership. A good mentor needs to be willing to share their knowledge while being open to learning from their mentee, too.

Mentors must be tactful, compassionate, and honest while staying objective. Just as you are giving your mentee your time and insight, your mentee is making time in their schedule to meet with you, share their opinions, and ask for your assistance. A mentee may feel vulnerable, so it’s important to manage the relationship carefully so that you both get the most out of it.

Preparing for a partnership with a mentor

Beginning a mentoring partnership can seem overwhelming for both parties. Preparing yourself and your mentor with set guidelines can help to smooth the processes – making the partnership as beneficial as possible.

Mentors and mentees should:

  • Be open to new ideas, opinions, and challenges
  • Define goals for both parties
  • Establish methods of accountability
  • Establish a plan to reach each goal

Why mentors are beneficial in healthcare

In the healthcare industry, stress is inevitable, technology advancements are continuous, and the skills needed to save lives are ever-changing. Mentoring partnerships help professionals stay on top of the industry, manage stress, and develop their careers.

Key benefits of mentoring relationships in healthcare:

  • Learning skills and techniques
  • Helping prepare individuals for job changes
  • Releasing stress through open communication and connections
  • Adapting to change by fostering new ideas and opinions
  • Opportunities to expand your professional network

Mentoring with Allegheny Anesthetists

At Allegheny Anesthetists, we work directly with CRNAs who wish to become independent contractors. Our knowledgeable workforce provides mentorship to all CRNAs joining the program, and reaches out to SRNAs to provide them with early knowledge of the potential mentorship and job opportunities available to them in the future.

To learn more about our mentoring opportunities, visit www.aanesthetists.com/start-your-own-business.