The First 500 - A report on London Deanery's Coaching ... - Mentoring

AppendixFeedback and soundbites[My mentor] built up a rapport with me with“ease whilst maintaining a real objectivity. I foundthat this enhanced our sessions by allowing meto talk and think freely. She gave me time tothink and organize my thoughts. I felt that shemaintained a good momentum in our sessionswith a solution based method that targeted myproblems specifically. [My mentor] is instantlylikeable and fair. I think that she balanced outthe sessions nicely whilst adding a reassuringsense of realism with regards to my objectives.[My mentor] also made me feel empoweredby the sessions by allowing me to vocalize myconcerns with ease. I looked forward to oursessions because I did not feel that I was in ahighly pressured situation. Our sessionswere positive.”Honesty and a keen sense of empathy is at the“forefront on reflection during these sessions.[My mentor] gave me a steady desire to facemy issues head on, and now rather than later.More clearly, during these sessions I was giventhe opportunity to initiate breaking the cycle oflearned negative behaviours. This stands outthe most. [My mentor] was particularly good atproviding a framework to initiate positive change– so that I could continue to make progressoutside of these sessions. I felt receptive duringour sessions and most importantly I felt that [mymentor] showed a genuine interest in my lifewith a view to making it better.”I honestly feel that my sessions with [my“mentor] suited me completely. It’s difficult to saywhere she could improve apart from continuingto harness her skills as a great communicator.”I think that [my mentor] could only add in a“positive sense to one’s life experience. It’s thetruthful objectivity which stuns me – and asense that solutions often lie within theso-called problem.”I think that my coaching experience has“affirmed what I suspected already, that is, forcertain individuals it clarifies life. I feel settled,and more assured. Sometimes you need36London Deanery Coaching and Mentoring Servicethat voice of objectivity to help organize yourthoughts and understand your emotions. I thinkthat coaching has helped to focus on areas ofmy life that can be improved. This makes theday to day problems change into challengeswhere solution-based thinking allows for apositive outcome. Coaching helps to simplifyevery day life challenges for me.”My mentor has helped me work through a“few concerns I had about my training as wellas helping me understand more about myself– how I learn and how I like to work. Insteadof feeling I’m just one of many trainees, I’vefelt the advice and support has been verymuch centered around me and my needs. I’ddefinitely recommend others to give [mentoring]a try, especially if they have a work or trainingdilemma that they’ve been wrestling with or justwant to try and make the most of theircurrent opportunities.”Although I have mentored several other doctors,“I reached the tender age of 52 without everhaving been a mentee. <strong>The</strong> London Deaneryprovided me with the opportunity, which Iseized. I only had a vague idea of what I wantedto achieve from the 4 sessions on offer, buthave always had the strong feeling that I couldachieve more. Mentoring enabled me to reflecton my career, both the positive points and thosethat needed addressing since I was not satisfiedwith them. To my surprise, the mentoring wasnot just limited to the traditional careers model,but explored all the facets of my life examiningwhich aspects I was content with and thosethat were unsatisfactory. Various points cameout of the discussions, most of which I’d alreadyidentified for myself but due to time pressureshad not put into place. <strong>The</strong> mentoring enabledme to break down aims into achievable goals.Sessions ended with agreements on whatshould be undertaken before the next session.<strong>The</strong>se were negotiated between my mentor andmyself in order to meet the objectives I had setwhilst still keeping the workload in reasonablelimits. I am now working a few additional hours,1 to 2 per week, in order to meet my aims,but I am more content and satisfied now that