What are the Most Important Characteristics of a Good Mentor?

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The following question and answers come from an e-mail survey that was sent out to women scientists all across the country. Every couple months the responses will be updated. As you can see from the replies, the experience of each woman in science is very different!

“Being a good listener, sympathetic but realistic, able to give you a good push when you need it, honest, forthright, available.” – Veterinarian, Name withheld

“Someone who has gone through the tough times, understands the difficulties in learning a complex subject, can empathize with the frustrations inherent to science and encourage the tenacity necessary to succeed. And above all, someone who can recognize the unique needs each one of us has in dealing with our interpersonal relationships and how this relates to our professional development -- and can teach the skills necessary to succeed in both arenas; for without strong personal self-esteem and interpersonal skills, it is difficult, if not impossible to succeed in a scientific environment.” - Stacie Clark, Veterinary Molecular Biology

“Simply succeeding in a scientific career to serve as an example that it can be done is so important. Taking time to develop a relationship with younger women is also critical, as women often need time to verbalize the subtle forms of discrimination and figure out how to overcome these barriers.”
– Endocrinologist, Name withheld

“Listen but don't try to steer the advice too much. It needs to be the recipient’s decision what they choose to do.” - Judy MacArthur Clark, Veterinarian

“LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN!! Help them organize their own thoughts and directions. Help with their focus. They have to figure things out for themselves.” - Gail Colbern, Research Scientist with a Pharmaceutical Company

“Someone who will at least occasionally admit that he or she made an error somewhere and how to avoid it. Also, someone who will just talk about strategy in day-to-day administration. Women are more often likely to do this, but perhaps unfortunately, this is sometimes perceived as weak on their jobs.” - Professor of Pathobiology, Name withheld

“Availability. Setting a good example, or leading by example. Encouragement and praise. Making the context that everything and anything is possible. Set no limits.” - D. Clark, Ph.D. Candidate in Physical Anthropology, emphasis on Nutritional Biology

“Mentors must be sympathetic to an aspiring scientist and provide a good example of a successful career.” - Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Surgery, Name withheld

“Non-judgmental; good listener; stimulates interest in all positive activities, not just ‘work,’ shares their interest with you, but does not require you to share their interest. - Veterinary Technologist, Name withheld

“They think about what YOU have to do to be successful, not on what they did to be successful. They are gently honest. They are able to help you view situations from different points of view.”
- Ann Berger, Geneticist/Immunologist

“Being a good role model yourself by setting a good example for others. Patience: people can't be expected to learn all at once. Be humble. No one wants to be mentored by a dictator or an egomaniac. Remember that you didn't know everything all the time.” - Anna M. van Heeckeren, Veterinary Medicine, Cystic Fibrosis Research

“Ability to listen and provide frank advice. Enough seniority or experience to be credible and knowledgeable.” - Christina Schwerdtfeger, Chemist

“First, they should have a desire to see you succeed. This may seem obvious, but within such a competitive field, this can be difficult to find. Second, they need to know enough about whatever stage of your career you are in to point you in the right direction. Third, they should inspire you to do your best. The kind of person who can do that may be different for different people.” - Animal Behaviorist, Name withheld

“Understanding, support and offering solutions.” - Susan Rose, Bioethicist

“For people to be beneficial as mentors and advisors, they must possess their own excellence. They must live what they are advising. Having someone tell you something you should do carries much less weight than seeing someone in action on the topic. Be an example.” - Lara Marie Rasmussen, Veterinary Surgery

“They are honest and support you and encourage you to continue if you decide that you really want something.” - Medical Researcher, Name withheld

“A mentor should be easy to talk to so that the person mentored can talk about anything with the mentor, not just science but everything else. A good mentor should stick up for and look out for the best interest of the person being mentored.” - Marie Mei Lee, Graduate Student in Molecular and Cellular Biology