Life of a Female Chiropractor 4
Happy 2010! It sure has gotten off to a very fast start. I feel like it just rolled in and we’re getting ready to turn the page on the calendar to February. One of the most significant things that has happened in my life as a female chiropractor, is the 2 new chiropractors that have joined my team at Hillarys Chiropractic.
When The Teacher Is Ready, The Student Appears
I have taken on a mentoring role in the practice with 2 new associate chiropractors. They are both vibrant, enthusiastic and eager to learn. I am committed to assisting them while they embrace and develop into being the best chiropractors that they can be. With the experience and wisdom of my years in practice, I plan to share and nurture that chiropractic spirit in them to love, give and serve the patients to the best of their ability.
When the Student Is Ready, The Teacher Appears
One of the new mentorees has been a wellness patient of mine for many years. His understanding of the chiropractic paradigm and commitment to helping people is from the heart. The other mentoree I had the pleasure of meeting through the other, as they went through the chiropractic course together. His heart and commitment matches the core values, mission, vision statement of our practice.
Mentoring is a mutually beneficial relationship that involves a more experienced person helping a less experienced person to achieve their goals.
Mentoring provides a unique opportunity to contribute to a student’s career development by sharing knowledge you have acquired through years of experience.
Effective Mentoring
- focuses on the needs of the person being mentored
- fosters caring and supportive relationships within the workplace
- encourages the person being mentored to develop to their optimum potential
As a mentor, the role is one that instructs, helps and guides another in the process of gaining knowledge, understanding and skills. I want to take this a step further - pointing to something that is already present in the student. It is like teaching someone to have shoulders. You can’t really teach someone who already has shoulders, to have shoulders. However, you can make them more aware of the shoulders they already have.
A mentoring relationship is usually where one wiser and more experienced person assists another person to grow and learn. Humans from the beginning of time have learned norms, values and behaviours by the example and coaching of others.
New adaptations of mentoring allows individuals to interact as colleagues in a helping relationship, on a more equal basis which can cultivate growth and learning to mutual benefit.
Experience, skills and a genuine desire to help are more valuable assets in a mentoring relationship than age or position. Open and assertive communication and the trust of both parties are essential.
Benefits to the Practice
• Greater productivity
• Discovery of talent
• Development of leadership for future survival and prosperity
• Communication of values, goals and plans
• Increase in morale and motivation
• Demonstration of personal and professional standards
• Achievement of excellent service
• Implementation of equity initiatives
• Fostering of shared values and team work
• Enhancement of leadership and people management skills
• Revitalised energy
• Increase in staff satisfaction
• Building a learning organisation
Benefits to the Mentoree
• Development of potential
• Increased knowledge about the practice
• Flexibility - Mentorees negotiate with their mentors to work within available time and other commitments
• Self directed learning - Mentorees choose specific learning objectives
• Give and receive feedback
• Receive encouragement and support to achieve goals
• Develop new networks
• Develop new and/or different perspectives
• Get assistance with ideas
• Demonstrate strengths and explore potential
• Develop visibility within or outside an organisation
• Be challenged to use talents and share expertise
• Develop and increase self confidence
Benefits to the Mentor
• Obtain a greater understanding of the barriers experienced at lower levels of the practice
• Enhance their own skills in coaching, counselling, listening and modelling
• The sense of being needed and recognised professionally
• Develop and practise a more personal style of leadership
• Gain additional recognition and respect
• Learn new perspectives and approaches
• Contribute something to others in the organisation
• Extend professional networks
• Demonstrate expertise and share knowledge
Both partners in the mentoring relationship benefit. Learning must be a lifelong process and one of the most effective ways to learn is to assist in the development of others. The best teachers learn much from their students, counsellors constantly learn from clients and partners in any successful relationship grow and develop along the way.
I look forward to our journey ahead, and trust that all will benefit in many forms.
Very good article Pam, I can relate where you are coming from, as I too like to “mentor” those in my line of work in photography. Love teaching and watching other grow from it, the benefits are enjoyable.