The Mentoring Equation

1. The Mentoring Equation Louis E. Cobuzzi, R.Ph., M.S. Associate Chief Consultant Pharmacy Benefits Management Services Office of Patient Care Services

2. 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.

3. Supervisors = Leaders How can you improve your leadership skills? • Self-assessment • Coaching • Mentoring

4. Self-Assessment • Myers-Briggs Type Indicator www.myersbriggs.org/ • Ken Blanchard Leader Behavior Analysis www.kenblanchard.com • Kolb Learning Style Inventory • Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument www.kilmann.com/conflict.html • Whole Brain Advantage www.hbdi.com

5. Coaching • Lifelong • Informal and formal • May be the coach or coachee • College • Work • Sports • Family

6. 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

7. VA Pharmacist Mentoring Who can be involved? • Mentors • Certified Pharmacist mentors • Mentees • New Pharmacy Chiefs • New Pharmacist Supervisors • Clinical Program Managers

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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?

11. 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

12. For the Mentee What are your needs? • One-to-one mentoring • Literature • Onsite/Offsite vs. self-directed training

13. 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

14. How to Decide Whom to Mentor

15. 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

16. 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?

17. 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

18. To Assess Mentor Suitability Ask the following question: • Do I have the relevant experience and time to make this relationship successful?

19. [Insert Facility Name] Pharmacy Department Mentoring Program Mentor 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. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

20. Scenarios

21. 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 drive and 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.

22. 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?

23. 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?

24. 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?

25. [Insert Facility Name] Pharmacy Department Mentoring Program • Background Information • Name: ___________ • Occupation Series & Title: _______________________ • E-mail address: ______________ • Please respond to the following questions • Why are you interested in becoming a Mentee? ____________________________________________________________________________________________ • What do you specifically hope to learn, understand, or be able to do better as a result of your experience as a mentee? _____________________________________________________________________________________ • What are your short and long-term career goals? ____________________________________________________________________________________________ • What are your expectations regarding how your experience as a mentee may benefit you personally and professionally? ________________________________________________________________________________ • 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. ____________________________________________________________________________________________ • 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 _____.

26. [Insert Facility Name] VA Mentoring Program Midpoint Evaluation Form • Mentees • Strongly Disagree = 1 D = 2 N = 3 A = 4 Strongly Agree = 5 • I am matched with a mentoring partner who helps me achieve my goals. 1 2 3 4 5 • We meet on a regular basis, or as often as needed. 1 2 3 4 5 • The process is educational. 1 2 3 4 5 • I ask questions and openly share my concerns. 1 2 3 4 5 • My mentor thoroughly answers my questions and provides feedback. 1 2 3 4 5 • This experience is making me more effective. 1 2 3 4 5 • The mentoring process: • Helps me grow as a professional . 1 2 3 4 5 • 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. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

27. [Insert Facility Name] VA Mentoring Program Midpoint Evaluation Form • Mentors • Strongly Disagree = 1 D = 2 N = 3 A = 4 Strongly Agree = 5 • I am matched with a mentoring partner who helps me achieve my goals. 1 2 3 4 5 • We meet on a regular basis, or as often as needed. 1 2 3 4 5 • The process is educational. 1 2 3 4 5 • My mentee asks excellent questions and openly shares concerns. 1 2 3 4 5 • This experience is making me more effective. 1 2 3 4 5 • The mentoring process: • Helps me grow as a professional . 1 2 3 4 5 • 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. • _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

28. 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

29. 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.