#EveryLittleActionCounts Week 44: Fostering a Culture of Mentorship
Mentorship is a powerful tool for personal and professional growth, especially in academia, where guidance can make a significant difference for ECRs.
A culture of mentorship ensures that knowledge, skills and opportunities are shared equally, fostering an environment of mutual support, and collaboration. By prioritizing mentorship, academics can bridge gaps, promote inclusion, and empower the next generation of scholars.
“As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands – one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” – Audrey Hepburn
Academics can support the building cultures of mentorship by:
Proactively reaching out to mentor ECRs
Make yourself visible to support underrepresented groups, and offer guidance tailored to their needs.
Encourage reciprocity
Contribute to fostering a reciprocal mentoring culture by creating opportunities for mentees to share their perspective and expertise.
Celebrate and value mentorship
In your department, school and/or faculty share success stories and recongize mentorship contributions.
We would be very happy to hear about your strategies for fostering a culture of mentorship in academia.
Anne-Wil Harzing & Christa Sathish