Nursing, Nursing Advanced Practice, Nursing RN, Student
Max Out Your Mentor IQ!
Developing mentor relationships is hands-down one of the best ways to excel in your new nursing career. The nurse who doesn’t have mentoring can be disadvantaged from a lack of support, access, and information. Thankfully, you can develop your Mentor Intelligence - your individual capacity for entering into mentor relationships - through knowledge, intention, and strategic actions. Follow these six tips to raise YOUR Mentor IQ, and set yourself up for success!
1.
Practice your profession in a culture of collegiality. Seek employment in an organization that values learning and promotes the development of its members. Ensure your workplace meets the mentoring needs of students and nurses throughout their careers.
2.
Invest in yourself and others. Generously give and receive the gift of mentoring. Every nurse and every student should have the privilege and obligation to mentor each other. Help to “grow” the talents of nurses who reflect your professional values and holistic “ways of knowing” nursing.
3.
Network, network, network. Networking is both an attitude and a way of life. If you associate with “connected” people, you will be connected. Network everyday using face-to-face and electronic avenues. Share your contacts and help others to build their networks. Join professional associations. Always carry business cards and have an up-to-date resume and print/electronic address books—your passport to many career milestones.
4.
Sharpen your communication. Fine-tune your listening, speaking, and writing skills. Your message is composed of your body language, voice, words, and communication style. Make certain that your total “communication package” works for you. Get feedback from mentors about your effectiveness as a communicator. Be careful about protecting your privacy and professionalism with online social networking.
5.
Become a mentor–leader. A good leader, even a novice, can teach, mentor, and develop others. “Polishing gifts” of your colleagues and team members through mentoring will give you the enormous satisfaction and joy of helping them reach their potential and achieve excellence. You will be inspired and taught by the people you mentor.
6.
Discover your passion. Examine your dreams and goals. Discover what “fires you up” to work long and hard—with pleasure. Both careful planning and serendipity can fuel your passions and advance your goals. Find heroes—people who inspire you to reach higher than you ever imagined and aspire to work at the “top of your game.”
Want to learn more? Good news! This post was derived from Fast Facts for Career Success in Nursing: Making the Most of Mentoring in a Nutshell by Connie Vance, available now at Springerpub.com. This book provides you with invaluable advice on what attracts mentors and makes them believe in you and in turn want to support your development. Plus, save an extra 25% with promo code NEWNP! It's a win-win!
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