Coaching, Mentoring and Sponsorship By: John E. Lowry, Ph.D. Director of Faculty Development CMU College of Medicine In service-oriented organizations like healthcare and medical education, the people in the organization are the greatest asset. It can be challenging for companies to develop each of their employees to reach their full potential. Coaching and mentoring programs are gaining popularity as more evidence shows their effectiveness. Sponsors can greatly accelerate professional growth and accomplishments.
Coaching Coaching programs have been used in many professional settings. A coach can be someone with expertise in a particular skill. High performers in almost every field have coaches, including athletes, musicians and public speakers. Some coaches help with a very specific skill, such as golf swing coaches or baseball hitting coaches. Others provide mental coaching services to help people handle the pressure of competition. These coaches can give very detailed feedback on their performance, which is critical for making improvements. The coach does not need to be better at the skill than the performer, but rather is someone who can observe the performer and provide the right feedback and opportunities for further practice. Other examples include life coaches and career coaches, who help individuals with specific situations or challenges they face. Many physicians have benefitted from working with a coach. Some coaches help physicians develop new clinical skills or learn new medical procedures. Other coaches help physicians grow in their practices as managers and leaders. Career coaches can help physicians find ways to adapt their careers to match their evolving professional interests. Another widely-used coaching program is peer coaching. In these programs, professionals are paired with a peer in their field, and they provide mutual support for each other. A peer coach can be a listening ear and a sounding board for creative ideas. Working with a peer coach can provide opportunities for collaboration on meaningful projects. Faculty and staff at the CMU College of Medicine participate in a peer coaching program with all of the other medical schools in the state of Michigan. Being able to work with a peer from another institution provides new opportunities and perspectives.
Mentoring In Greek mythology, Mentor was charged by Odysseus to teach his son Telemachus. A mentor is defined as a trusted counselor or guide. A mentor is usually a seasoned
professional who can teach and advise someone because of the mentor’s knowledge and experience. The primary difference between a mentor and a coach is that mentoring involves a longer and more meaningful relationship. A mentor is truly invested in the person she or he mentors. There are many benefits to mentoring. Working with a mentor can be a powerful professional development tool. Junior colleagues receiving mentoring can see rapid growth early in their careers. Leaders and high-performers can be grown from within an organization. Organizations see many benefits, including lower employee turnover, and improved employee engagement and company culture. Many mentors report positive experiences as they impart their wisdom to help their colleagues grow. Mentoring can be a great experience for all who are involved. The CMU College of Medicine’s Academy of Medical Educators recently launched a mentoring program for medical faculty. Senior faculty members serve as mentors to junior colleagues in a dyad mentoring structure. In some cases, faculty are paired with someone who has similar interests and training. In other cases, faculty are paired with someone who has complementary experience, such as a physician with a particular research interest paired with a foundational science professor with research experience. While the program is just getting started, there is potential for many good experiences to come from it. Medicine and medical education provide many opportunities for mentoring. Medical faculty have the opportunity to teach and mentor medical students and residents. Experienced clinicians can mentor their junior colleagues. Mentors show support for their mentees by teaching and guiding. They help people avoid mistakes and learn from their experiences. However, good mentors also provide corrective feedback when needed, and can engage in crucial conversations which are in the best interest of the mentee. Because mentoring relationships are built on trust, mentors have a unique opportunity to positively influence the lives and careers of those with whom they work.
Sponsorship Very few people make successful careers completely on their own. Almost everyone makes connections with others who help them along the way. Coaches and mentors can be very valuable, but sponsoring others can have even more powerful effects on others. Sponsorship is a way of accelerating the connections and accomplishments of employees by actively steering people toward opportunities and connections that will be good for their careers. continued on page 14
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