Mentoring in crisis does not need to put mentorship in crisis: Realigning expectations

• Published in: Journal of Clinical and Translational Science 2021-01, Vol.5 (1), p.1-2, Article e16
• Main Authors: Cameron, Kenzie A, Daniels, Lauren A, Traw, Emily, McGee, Richard
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: academia; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; crisis; Education; expectations; Families & family life; Grief; Internet; Medical research; Mentors; Mentorship; Pandemics; Productivity; realignment
• ISSN: 2059-8661; 2059-8661
• DOI: 10.1017/cts.2020.508

8 As a result, people feel powerful mental, emotional, and physical reactions. 8,9 The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in death and a multitude of non-death losses: loss of in-person connections, routine, economic security, freedom, a sense of certainty, and normalcy. Compassion in mentoring may include reaffirming common mentor and mentee responsibilities: listening carefully to each other’s goals and expectations, identifying areas of strength and growth and discussing how they may have changed, and confirming flexibility and willingness to alter expectations and change plans. 10 Realign Mentorship Expectations As we begin a slow return to re-engaging in person in our workspaces, in a world undeniably different from when we left, remember that alignment of expectations in a mentorship relationship was never meant to be a one-time, static event, but rather an iterative, living process. 11–13 Mentors and mentees share this responsibility; yet we believe that mentors, due to their leadership role, need to set the tone and take the first steps: Address for correspondence: K. A. Cameron, PhD, MPH, FACH, 750 N. Lake Shore Drive, 10th Floor, Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.