The Mentoring Equation

Louis E. Cobuzzi, R.Ph., M.S.

Associate Chief Consultant

Pharmacy Benefits Management Services

Office of Patient Care Services

Topics

• Pharmacy Mentor Program in VHA.• Who can be a mentor?• How to determine if you are the

appropriate person to be a mentor.• Who should you consider when looking for

a mentor?• How to determine the amount of effort

required to mentor someone.

Supervisors = Leaders

How can you improve your leadership skills?

– Self-assessment– Coaching– Mentoring

Self-Assessment• Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

www.myersbriggs.org/

• Ken Blanchard Leader Behavior Analysiswww.kenblanchard.com

• Kolb Learning Style Inventory

• Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument www.kilmann.com/conflict.html

• Whole Brain Advantagewww.hbdi.com

Coaching

• Lifelong• Informal and formal• May be the coach or coachee

– College–Work– Sports– Family

Mentoring

“Mentoring is a time-honored tradition in which the leaders of today guide and groom the leaders of tomorrow.”

VA Learning University Mentor Certification Program

VA Pharmacist Mentoring

Who can be involved?– Mentors

• Certified Pharmacist mentors

– Mentees• New Pharmacy Chiefs• New Pharmacist Supervisors• Clinical Program Managers

VA Pharmacist Mentoring

Federal Supervisor Training Act of 2009 • Transferring knowledge and advice in areas such as:

– Communication– Critical thinking– Responsibility– Flexibility– Motivating employees– Teamwork– Leadership– Professional development

VA Learning University

Build your Career at VA! http://www.mycareeratva.va.gov/Pages/default.aspx

• Career Planning Process• A Career Mapping Tool• My Career Fit Tool• VA Career Guidelines

New Considerations for Mentoring

• Up to 2010: New Pharmacy Chiefs only

• In 2010: Supervisors as well as Chiefs were encouraged to enter the program

• Our present needs out way present supply Carolyn Stephens Pharm. D., MBA, PRRO

– Can we expand?– Is there interest?

For the Mentee

Benefits of seeking an “outside” mentor– Work through critical thinking– Advisor who has walked the walk– Confidential– Neutral perspective– Gray areas not found in handbook– New perspective outside of

practice/geographic area

For the Mentee

What are your needs?– One-to-one mentoring– Literature– Onsite/Offsite vs. self-directed training

One-to-One Mentoring• Talk with your supervisor about a Mentor• You can Contact Carolyn Stephens about

being a Mentor or Mentee• We can coordinate the mentoring activity

– It is voluntary– We will match the mentor with the mentee– Regular follow-up

• Mentor/Mentee• Carolyn Stephens• Louis Cobuzzi

How to Decide Whom to Mentor

The Mentee Side of the Equation

How motivated is the individual to advance their career?

DRIVE = How motivated is the Mentee

DISTANCE = Gap between where the Mentee is and their goal

To Assess Drive & Distance

Ask the following two questions:

What is it that you would like to learn?

What experience do I have, in particular, that can be helpful to you?

The Mentor Side of the Equation

Can I help and how much effort is required?

GAP = experience of the Mentor as compared to the Mentee

RELEVANCE = Distance between Mentor’s expertise and the Mentee’s goal

EFFORT = Work to bridge gaps in experience/relevance

To Assess Mentor Suitability

Ask the following question:

Do I have the relevant experience and time to make this relationship successful?

[Insert Facility Name] Pharmacy Department Mentoring ProgramMentor Biography

 Background Information

Name: _________________________________ Title: __________________________________ Please respond to the following questions: Why are you interested in becoming a Mentor? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What are your current job responsibilities?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

What are your short and long-term career goals?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What about your job gives you the most enjoyment?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Please list your hobbies and community involvement.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Scenarios

Scenario 1: Jack is a staff pharmacist with no supervisory or managerial experience. He asks Ginny the Service Chief if she would consider mentoring him as he would like to assume greater responsibility in the service.

In this instance Ginny will need to ascertain Jack’s driveand what it is that he would like to learn from her. In this way she can determine if she is the best person to mentor Jack or if another would be more appropriate.

(6 X 10) > (10 X 2 X 4)(60) > (80)

In this case it appears Ginny will work more to educate Jack. Let’s discuss this.

Scenario 2: Jill is a clinical pharmacist who has just assumed her first supervisory job. She asks Keri the Assistant Chief if she would consider mentoring her as she takes on this new role.

In this instance Keri ascertained Jill’s drive and what it is that she would like to learn from her as:

(10 X 8) > (7 X 5 X 2)(80) > (70)

What does this equation tell us?

Scenario 3: Luke is a front line pharmacy supervisor at a small facility who would like to assume greater responsibility in the service. He asks John the Chief if he would consider mentoring him as he continues to develop his leadership skills.

In this instance John ascertained Luke’s drive and what it is that he would like to learn from him as:

(7 X 5) > (5 X 5 X 2)(35) > (50)

What does this equation tell us?

Scenario 4: Leia is a new Pharmacy Chief. She asks Gary the VPE if he would consider mentoring her as she takes on this new role.

In this instance Gary ascertained Leia’s drive and what it is that she would like to learn from her as:

(10 X 7) > (6 X 5 X 1)(70) > (30)

What does this equation tell us?

[Insert Facility Name] Pharmacy Department Mentoring Program

Background Information

Name: ___________

Occupation Series & Title: _______________________

E-mail address: ______________

Please respond to the following questionsI. Why are you interested in becoming a Mentee?

____________________________________________________________________________________________

II. What do you specifically hope to learn, understand, or be able to do better as a result of your experience as a mentee? _____________________________________________________________________________________

III. What are your short and long-term career goals? ____________________________________________________________________________________________

IV. What are your expectations regarding how your experience as a mentee may benefit you personally and professionally? ________________________________________________________________________________

V. What kind of mentor are you seeking (e.g., career field, grade level, personality style, gender)? Please list mentor preferences (list provided in e-mail). If you have no preference, please state. ____________________________________________________________________________________________

VI. Do you anticipate any problems in keeping your supervisor informed about your experiences as a mentee on a regular basis or with your participation interfering with your work commitments? Please comment. ____________________________________________________________________________________________

Please complete this form ELECTRONICALLY and e-mail to Coordinators name@va.gov. For more information please contact [Insert name of coordinator] at extension _____.

[Insert Facility Name] VA Mentoring Program Midpoint Evaluation Form

Mentees

Strongly Disagree = 1 D = 2 N = 3 A = 4 Strongly Agree = 5

1. I am matched with a mentoring partner who helps me achieve my goals. 1 2 3 4 52. We meet on a regular basis, or as often as needed. 1 2 3 4 5 3. The process is educational. 1 2 3 4 54. I ask questions and openly share my concerns. 1 2 3 4 55. My mentor thoroughly answers my questions and provides feedback. 1 2 3 4 56. This experience is making me more effective. 1 2 3 4 57. The mentoring process:

a) Helps me grow as a professional . 1 2 3 4 5

b) Is worth my time and energy. 1 2 3 4 5

What aspect of the program is most beneficial? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What challenges do you encounter while working with your mentor? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Please describe the strengths of your mentoring relationship. Also describe the areas in which it can improve. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you feel that you have outgrown your mentor or would benefit from being placed with a new mentor, please explain. Please provide names of potential mentors. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[Insert Facility Name] VA Mentoring Program Midpoint Evaluation Form

Mentors

Strongly Disagree = 1 D = 2 N = 3 A = 4 Strongly Agree = 5

1. I am matched with a mentoring partner who helps me achieve my goals. 1 2 3 4 52. We meet on a regular basis, or as often as needed. 1 2 3 4 5 3. The process is educational. 1 2 3 4 54. My mentee asks excellent questions and openly shares concerns. 1 2 3 4 55. This experience is making me more effective. 1 2 3 4 56. The mentoring process:

a) Helps me grow as a professional . 1 2 3 4 5

b) Is worth my time and energy. 1 2 3 4 5

What aspect of the program is most beneficial?_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What challenges do you encounter while working with your mentee?_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Please describe the strengths of your mentoring relationship. Also describe the areas in which it can improve._____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ If you feel that you would be better matched with a different mentee, please explain. Please provide the names of any potential mentees

that you feel would be suitable._____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mentoring Forms

Valuable documents to use for your own mentoring program:

http://vaww.infoshare.va.gov/sites/vapharmacyinformatics/Prro/default.aspx?RootFolder=%2fsites%2fvapharmacyinformatics%2fPrro%2fPopular%20Documents%2fNew

%20Pharmacy%20Supervisor%20Call&FolderCTID=&View=%7bE4877082%2d8B76%2d41FD%2d848E%2d230F7BC3A987%7d

QUESTIONS?

Presentation developed from an article by Whitney Johnson. Whitney is a founding partner of Rose Park Advisors, Clayton M. Christensen’s investmentfirm, and author. Article from Harvard Business Review 10/2011.