Читать книгу Practical Applications of Coaching and Mentoring in Dentistry - Janine Brooks - Страница 17

Holt and Ladwa (2008) in their study state that: ‘The authors conclude that the best tool for supporting the quality of performance of dentists is mentoring’.

Such a short quote and yet it says so much and sets the tone for this Chapter. The key words are quality and performance, both should be interpreted as widely as possible.

In this chapter we will review the process and relationship that is mentoring. We will consider the roles and skills of being a mentor and what mentoring can achieve. There is a section on how to choose a mentor and some factors to think about when matching mentors and mentees. The important aspect of ethics is included. How supervision fits into mentoring and finally the current state of play in dentistry in the UK.

Mentoring is a relationship and a process, with a purpose: supporting someone to develop. It is a practical, applied activity, underpinned by skill and experience. Mentoring focuses on the present and on the mentees' future desired outcomes. The mentor supports the mentee to achieve those outcomes or goals, through a reflective, conversational process that combines their experience with their use of mentoring skills:

The magic of mentoring is the combination of insight arising in the mentee, inspiration, and motivation to take action toward a goal, and the confidence to keep going in the face of challenge.

For the magic of mentoring to happen both elements of skill and experience need to be present. It isn’t enough to have expertise; it isn’t enough to be great at listening, asking questions or developing rapport. A great mentor brings the two elements together in a harmony that is in service of the mentee and promotes growth and development.