Here are four principles to guide physicians who want to be good mentors:
1. Be available. Make yourself available to mentees through video conferences and phone calls, and offer shorter meetings if hourlong time slots are not available.
2. Know your role. Try to find what role your mentee needs you to play, be it coach, sponsor or connector. Effective mentors are always mindful about what their mentee needs and adjust accordingly.
3. Try to be objective. Mindful mentorship requires you to be nonjudgemental and supportive, even when mentees get on your nerves. Just as clinicians avoid getting their emotions involved with the care experience, they should remain equally objective when looking to support their mentees.
4. Put yourself in their shoes. Putting yourself in the shoes of a mentee will improve your empathy and compassion in the conversation and provide the most supportive feedback.
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