Optimizing the Practice of Mentoring

Conflicting Demands and Priorities

Challenge:

Your mentee seems to be spending a significant amount of time on outside interests and is not meeting your or your department’s expectations for progress.

Self Reflection:

  1. What am I feeling?
    • I’m concerned my mentee is not enjoying the research and might be preparing to leave.
    • I’m worried my mentee will not receive tenure.
    • It’s possible my mentee might be struggling with something that is interfering with work.
  2. What do I need to learn about my mentee’s perspective?
    • My mentee may have different personal/professional goals than me.
    • Perhaps my mentee has a new priority, is not comfortable in the department, or is in a stressful situation.
  3. What outcome(s) do I want?
    • I want my mentees to feel welcomed and supported in their training/work environment.
    • My mentees need to successfully balance their outside priorities with their research.
    • I want my mentees to focus on the activities that really matter to their success in this setting.

Conversation Openers:

  • I get a sense that you’re being pulled in a lot of different directions.
  • Let’s look at your goals and revisit the requirements for the training program. Your time is best spent on activities that will help you reach those targets.
  • How are you doing? If you’re having a challenge right now, I’d like to learn more about it. If you would prefer not to talk about it right now, my door is always open.

Tips and Tools:

  • Illustrate and model how you deal with conflicting demands on your time and how you address stressors.
  • Discuss if/how you experienced similar challenges when you were at the same stage of your career as the mentee.
  • Make sure your mentee understands the performance expectations for their position.
  • Mental health problems like anxiety, depression, and burnout are common in research environments and can stop people from performing at their best. Mentees may be hesitant to bring up these issues, but if these problems are not addressed, they can spiral. Choose an appropriate place and ensure confidentiality when talking with your mentee. Post and share mental health resources.