Mentoring: How Helping Others Can Help You

Mentoring is not a gift, although it feels like one to those who have benefited from the tutelage of a seasoned professional. Mentoring is not a sacrifice, although it may feel like one to those who have found time in their already overstocked schedules to help a newcomer grow. Mentoring is an investment--in your profession, in the future and in yourself.

While the benefits of having a mentor are obvious, the advantages of being one are less frequently cited. When they are, it is generally in terms of personal satisfaction or repaying a debt to those who helped you. And although those are valid and compelling reasons for being a mentor, there are more tangible rewards as well. Following are five ways in which helping a new professional can help you in the long run. 1. Mentoring helps to refill the ranks--preferably in your organization. For Bonnie Bakal, CMT, owner of the Singer MedScript transcription company in Houston, mentoring new professionals means having loyal, well-trained employees. "The bulk of our staff is people who we took the time to train and help along," she said. "We do a lot of one-on-one mentoring and education, and I think that tends to breed a certain amount of loyalty in our employees. Having a loyal, long-term employee more than repays the time and effort we expend on the process." Heidi Jones, RHIA, program director for the health information technology (HIT) department at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, IA, agrees part of her job is to coordinate clinical experience for her students. Many of the directors who have agreed to take a student under their wings have later been rewarded with a new, well-trained employee. "Taking on a student gives the directors a chance to see the student's skills in action and to get a feel for their work ethic," she said. "Many times, they end up hiring them after graduation." 2. New recruits bring fresh eyes. In addition, people new to the field can often bring a beneficial fresh perspective. "You tend to get very comfortable in your processes," admitted Bakal. "You do the same thing the same way time after time, because that's the way it's always been done. On several occasions, I've seen younger professionals question some of these archaic processes and suggest new and better ways of doing things." "Several of our students have done major management programs for the facilities they were placed in," said Jones. "It's neat to see these students bring some innovation to our field." 3. The person you mentor may complement your skills. It's impossible to be an expert in everything, and it's difficult to keep up with the constant stream of innovations and alterations. Ideally, mentoring not only means becoming a resource, but also obtaining one in the form of a new professional who may know some things you don't. "Mentors should be knowledgeable in their field, but that doesn't mean they have to know everything," stated Bakal. "Over time, the relationship becomes more of a partnership, a way to share knowledge and help each other grow professionally." 4. Mentoring is networking at its most intimate. The goal of any good mentor is to steer a "newbie" toward professional success--and you never know where that success will lead him or her. "You never quite know where those you mentor are going to end up, what connections they will make or who they will get to know," commented Bakal. "You never know how or when your efforts will be repaid." In addition, acting as a mentor increases your visibility, creates a reputation and ultimately furthers your career. 5. It reminds you why you chose this career in the first place. When you've got your nose to the grindstone, it can be hard to look up and see the big picture, or look back and see why you chose the path you did. Serving as a mentor can help you get in touch with your "inner newbie" and remember why you became a health care professional in the first place. "The best thing about mentoring for me is that it helps to renew my enthusiasm," said Bakal. "It reminds me of the things I enjoy about my profession. And watching someone else discover new things reminds me how important it is to continue to learn and grow." Gretchen Berry is a former staff member of ADVANCE.