Belated #ser2020 Q&A #5. I got side-tracked working on a grant near deadline so I didn't answer all the queries that folks had. So, I'll try to keep putting them out over the coming weeks.
I had two queries about mentorship - my philosophy & mentorship across a career. 1/n

Until I had to write this tweet, I'm not sure I ever consciously thought about my mentorship philosophy. But I think it can be summed up in a few words: not in your own image, listen first, humility, kindness, and humor 2/n

#1 Not in your own image: Mentors often try to create mentees that are mini-versions of the mentor. But a mentor's job is to help the mentee be the best version of the mentee that they can be. That means helping the mentee to identify & pursue their own goals & interests.
3/n

#2 Listen first: To help someone be their best, you have to listen. You can't learn anything about them when you are talking. So you listen, & probe, & try to understand their motivations, gifts, & fears. Then you can help them set a course.
4/n

#3 Humility: I know that I don't have all the answers. And I know others are better suited to answer many questions that a mentee has. So my job is to recognize what I know & what I don't know, and help them get what they need, from me or someone else.
5/n

#4 Kindness: Life can be cruel. Mentors don't need to be. Being kind is often all that's needed. But remember that being kind doesn't mean that you don't give difficult advice. Sometimes, the kind thing is to gently give negative feedback. People need to know to grow.
6/n

#5 Humor: I love to laugh. I get distracted, off track. My mentees laugh at me. I laugh at them. We joke around.

We in academia take ourselves too seriously. But we ain't all that. Take a step back, chill out (yes, some mentees call me Chill Bill), & things will work out.
7/n

I'll do mentorship over the career in another thread. That one will focus more on the mentee side.
8/n