Mentorship: How to Receive and Achieve
Defining Mentorship
Mentorship has become a term that, in my opinion, gets thrown around too loosely with a strict connotation, which is somewhat of an oxymoron. My view on mentorship changed over the years as I gained experience within this profession. As a student, if you would have asked me my thoughts on joining a residency program, you’d have heard “no way” before you could even ask me why. This may have been naïve and slightly immature; however, at the time, there was no way that after investing a boatload of money into a 3-year DPT program with clinical mentorship built into the program, I was going to then take a salary reduction for another learning experience. So, naturally, what did I do immediately after graduation? That’s right—I applied for and accepted a fellowship with the American Sports Medicine Institute at the Andrews Sports Medicine group in Birmingham, Alabama, under the supervision of Dr. Kevin Wilk, DPT, FAPTA.
You might be thinking a few things that many others do when I tell them: What changed? How did you get that opportunity? How was that? Simply put, it was my understanding of the value of mentorship. Going back on my initial word was the best thing that could have happened for my early career development.
With the increased accessibility of educational material through online learning, virtual platforms, and residencies, it can be extremely difficult to figure out which program is the best fit for you. How, then, is one to choose what mentorship they’d like to receive, who they should receive it from, and how to go about getting an experience?
Key Components to Mentorship
Before we answer this, I think there are 3 key components that need to be addressed:
- What is mentorship?
- How do you receive mentorship?
- How do you make the most of your mentorship opportunity?
What Should You Look For?
Too many students and early career professionals get caught up with this idea of mentorship. To me, mentorship is any form of education received from someone with more experience in a given area of knowledge. This can be through a formally structured program with scheduled meetings and assignments, or more simply (and in my personal preference) through a casual conversation over coffee or a cocktail.
When we think that mentorship must be formally established, we limit ourselves to having only a few mentors. Based on my definition of mentorship, one can have multiple mentors across various areas, and I wholeheartedly believe that you should. Personally, I have mentors in all areas of my life—personal, professional, relational, financial—because I believe that a mentor is anyone I view as having more “successful” experience in one area of life than I currently do.
How To Be a Mentee
Now that you understand what mentorship is, you’re probably wondering how to find the right mentor. My advice: before finding a mentor, find yourself. You should have a clear understanding of what you want in your career and then seek out someone who had a similar path. After that, it’s simple—just ask for it.
I suggest giving before you get. When you find someone you’d like to learn from, offer to volunteer in their clinic or take them out for a drink. As physical therapists, we are givers; I’ve personally never come across a PT unwilling to share their knowledge with a colleague.
So, how did I get the opportunity? My final clinical affiliation was at Champion Sports Medicine in Birmingham, Alabama, under the guidance of Dr. Michael Bagwell, a former fellow of Kevin’s. It was here that I learned about the fellowship experience through Mike and was introduced to Kevin.
During my time at CSM, I made a point of regularly approaching Kevin to say hello each morning, establishing a personal connection. From there, I’d periodically ask questions—questions that were thoughtful, showed my appreciation for his work, and would benefit both of us in the future. Kevin has extensive knowledge in professional baseball and has developed many evidence-based arm care programs. Being from Long Island, I knew that the patient population I’d be returning to consisted of youth athletes, so I asked his input on how he’d alter his current programs for the youth overhead athlete. Once he explained his ideas, I followed up by asking if he’d be interested in developing this program with my assistance. He accepted, and we discussed transitioning our informal mentorship into a formal fellowship opportunity.
To recap, the best way to receive mentorship is simple: know what you want, find who has it, and ask if they’d be willing to educate.
Make The Most Of Your Opportunity
Now that you have the opportunity, there are ways to get the most out of the experience. “Failing to plan is planning to fail,” so be sure to write down and discuss with your mentor what you’d like to accomplish. Personally, I had three goals: clinical development, professional development, and personal achievement. Clinically, I wanted to perfect my examination and differential diagnosis skills for the shoulder, elbow, and knee joints. Professionally, I wanted to develop the Youth Throwers Ten Arm Care Program and network with other orthopedists and physical therapists. Lastly, I had a personal desire to learn more about providing educational content, hosting professional seminars, and offering medical consulting for rehab products.
On top of a plan, you must have realistic expectations. Mentorship is not all about you—it’s a two-way street. Just because your mentor has experience doesn’t mean that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Your mentor can and should learn from you. Also, understand that while you’re there to learn, it’s important to know the right time to do so. Acknowledge that you’re being integrated into their busy life and may not always be the top priority. Discuss times that work best for them and let them know what you’d like to review in advance. This way, you make the most of the time offered.
Lastly, and most importantly in my opinion, ask for criticism. Yes, ask to be told that you’re not perfect. Here’s why: you’re not perfect, and no one is. The moment you think you are, you’re saying you’re unable to improve. The whole point of mentorship is to learn from someone with more experience, so don’t take their feedback personally; understand it as an opportunity for growth. Once you can handle constructive criticism, you’ll soon seek it even in times of success. Something I still do is ask, even when complimented on how I handled a situation, “How could I have done that more effectively or efficiently? How would you have handled it?” This approach helps me learn and “fail” forward.
Recap
- Any relationship where you learn from someone with more experience
- You can have many mentors
2. How do you receive mentorship?
- Understand what you want in a mentor
- Find the right fit
- Give before you receive
3. How do you make the most of your mentorship opportunity?
- Plan ahead
- Understand the two-way dynamic
- Embrace constructive criticism as a growth tool