The Top 6 Things to Remember About Mentorship

Mentorship exists when one person aids the development of another using their personal knowledge, energy, and time. Mentoring relationships remain important, especially at career transitions, and take a variety of forms.
Mentorship addresses some of the challenges facing veterinary medicine by supporting mental health and wellbeing, increasing representation of underrepresented groups (BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, etc.), and providing financial benefits to veterinary workplaces.
Effective mentorship benefits everyone: mentees, mentors, individual practices, and the veterinary profession. These benefits include, but are not limited to, increased self-confidence, increased career satisfaction, building networks, increased productivity, improved retention, and more.
Mentoring relationships require trust, respect, and open communication. Mentees should be proactive and goal oriented. Mentors should focus on creating a positive environment and an effective mentorship experience.
Successful mentoring relationships define boundaries, set clear expectations, and establish psychological and physical safety.
Key steps to effective mentoring relationships include thoughtful mentor/mentee selection, access to mentors/mentees, evaluation and continued re-evaluation, and troubleshooting when the relationship is not working.