26 Jan 2024 | 3 mins

Unlocking potential: The key benefits of being a mentor

Article by: Dr Stephen Harden

A keen eye, attention to detail and a commitment to open communication are all key traits that define the significant role of a mentor.

In healthcare, although this role can go relatively unseen, the ability of colleagues to tap into a mentor’s wealth of knowledge and experience can be invaluable.

As a senior doctor being a mentor is integral to my practice. Witnessing colleagues develop is not only enjoyable but professionally fulfilling, particularly when the right support can guide them through difficulties.

Workforce wellbeing is a crucial component in a doctor’s ability to provide high-quality care. Mentoring enhances wellbeing, fosters a positive work environment and contributes to developing and sustaining workforce diversity.

At the RCR, we are broadening the scope of our mentoring programme to make it available to all, at any stage in their career. We’re always looking for experienced doctors with an interest in personal development and keen to enhance their mentoring skills. Here are three key reasons why you should consider a role as a mentor:

Emotional support

Mentoring provides a safe space for doctors to discuss challenges, concerns and personal development. Mentors offer guidance and empathy, which can reduce stress and promote wellbeing. They encourage mentees to understand that they already have the resources and capabilities within them to tackle the challenges they’re facing. They can help mentees reflect on their successes, as well as help them learn from times when things may not have gone so well.

For mentors, witnessing your mentee's growth and success can be incredibly fulfilling. The knowledge of having played a role in a mentee’s development can in turn improve the mentor’s sense of wellbeing.

Skills development

Mentoring facilitates the transfer of knowledge, expertise and experience from experienced doctors to their mentees. Your mentees will gain valuable insights, learn new skills and enhance their professional capabilities, potentially leading to increased job satisfaction.

Mentors also benefit in several ways. Mentoring provides an opportunity for self-reflection and personal development. As you guide and support your mentee, you'll learn about yourself, your strengths and potential areas for improvement.

Effective mentoring does require strong communication skills. Through regular interactions with your mentee, you'll refine your ability to listen actively, provide constructive feedback and convey ideas. Engaging with mentees from diverse backgrounds and experiences exposes mentors to fresh perspectives and ideas. This can enrich their understanding of challenges and solutions in service delivery, leading to more informed decision-making.

A mentoring relationship is also a two-way learning relationship, encouraging mentors to stay updated and continuously learn; indeed, the RCR has recently completed a reverse mentoring pilot, and this may become more widely available too. Having completed the reverse mentoring pilot programme myself, it is incredibly useful in our role as mentors to reflect on spending time as a mentee again. It has reinforced to me that mentoring is not a one-off event but an ongoing process of support and learning.

Career progression

Mentoring helps doctors navigate their career paths and milestones effectively. Mentors can provide guidance on career planning, goal setting and networking opportunities, which fosters professional growth and fulfilment. Mentors will often be well placed to advise their mentees when potential opportunities to take on leadership roles arise.

Mentoring also allows mentors themselves to take on a leadership role – helping to develop and refine leadership skills such as coaching, problem-solving and decision-making.

Mentorship in the healthcare profession really is crucial in providing an opportunity for experienced doctors to offer guidance to colleagues and share their knowledge.

This national mentoring month we’re delighted to be launching our new mentoring platform and are looking for mentors as we embark on the start of this new chapter. If this sounds like the right opportunity for you to develop your skills, please visit our mentoring pages to find out more.

Our mentoring schemes

Article by:

Dr Stephen Harden is a consultant in cardiothoracic radiology at University Hospital Southampton, having been appointed in 2005.

He completed undergraduate medical training at the University of Cambridge and St Thomas’s Hospital in the University of London. He trained in Clinical Radiology in Wessex and undertook further training in Germany and the USA. His consultant clinical practice includes cardiac and thoracic cross-sectional imaging and PET/CT.

Before his current role, Dr Harden was the Medical Director for Education and Training in Clinical Radiology at the RCR from 2019-2022. He chaired the RCR Clinical Radiology Professional Learning and Development sub-committee from 2017-2019 and has been an FRCR part 2A examiner. Previously, he was President of the British Society of Cardiovascular Imaging, the first RCR travelling cardiac Professor, BIR Vice President, Head of Wessex School of Radiology and the senior cardiac editor for the British Journal of Radiology.

Read our interview with Dr Harden and find out what attracted him to the specialty and why he wanted to get more involved with the RCR.

Dr Harden's tenure as Vice-President, Clinical Radiology at the RCR is 2023-2026.