Product Review: Faculty Success Through Mentoring: A Guide for Mentors, Mentees, and Leaders

The authors of the latest edition of The Elements of Mentoring have categorized sixty-five elements into six sections dealing with subjects such as mentor skills, traits, relationship matters, self-knowledge of mentors, mentorship restoration, and matters of closure. According to Johnson and Ridley (2008), the elements of mentoring are like tools in a toolbox. Adult educators will find them helpful in creating and maintaining outstanding mentorships with both colleagues and students. The first section describes positive qualities that exceptional mentors need to use while mentoring protégés. For example, the authors state that "Mentors should expect more of their protégés than their protégés typically expect of themselves" (p. 9). Furthermore, it also states that "Good mentors teach protégés strategies for managing conflict, and coach them on setting short and long-term goals" (p. 16). Section one also includes a comprehensive list of the characteristics essential to being an excellent mentor. A description of positive personality traits and interpersonal style are presented in the second section of the book. The authors also recommend a number of behaviors that are good to acquire as an active or prospective mentor. These behaviors include exuding emotional warmth, respecting privacy, and demonstrating trustworthiness to name a few. The third section of the book provides recommendations for how to arrange a good mentor-protégé relationship. For example, clear communication helps both parties understand mutual responsibilities, and making goals measureable increases the likelihood that protégés will meet the optimal goals. Creating relationship boundaries, as well as fostering sensitivity of gender, race, and ethnicity helps to maintain the protégés best interests in the mentorship. In this section, one also learns that the mentor-protégé relationship will travel through the predictable phases of initiation, cultivation, separation, and redefinition. In the fourth section, the authors discuss the importance of mentors knowing themselves through key behaviors. They must be mindful of the benefits and risks of mentoring. This section suggests that productive mentors appear to yield similarly motivated protégés. Additionally, the importance of creating accountability, being a humble mentor, and establishing mentorship integrity is also discussed. In the fifth section, recommendations are provided for handling tough situations in a mentorship. The authors examine behaviors that will prevent and solve problems that may occur. Among those discussed are avoiding behaviors that may harm the relationship, slowing down the process of mentoring, and being truthful. Finally, the ending of a mentorship is presented in the sixth and final section as a positive transition. Mentors must be mindful of welcoming growth in protégés, accepting the end, and knowing that mentoring is a rewarding relationship that can be ongoing. Overall, the book is a concise guide that great mentors whether in a business or academic setting must read. The organization of the book into six sections with related elements helps make the book reader-friendly for mentors aspiring to excellence. The corresponding real-life scenarios to each element description make the book interesting and applicable to any field that involves mentoring.