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MentorNet has launched at Sussex, offering an easy-to-use tool to find a mentor or mentee as part of your personal development journey. The University has an active mentoring programme open to all staff and we spoke to Ed Jenkins, User Experience Design Manager in Digital Development, about his experience of being a mentor at Sussex.

What motivated you to become a mentor? 

I heard about the mentoring programme when I did a management course at the University. It seemed a great opportunity to apply the coaching skills I learnt on that course and to develop my skills as a manager. Also, I spend most of my day at a laptop either doing research or design so it was a chance to get away from the screen, meet new colleagues and share my experience in digital with others.

Tell us about your experience of being a mentor

Becoming a mentor and setting up meetings has been simple. Organisational Development have an excellent process with clear guidance and documents for getting started. There are also community of practice meetings for extra support and feedback.

In the first couple of mentoring sessions I was trying get it ‘right’. I had read books on coaching and mentoring and was keen to apply the things I'd learnt. But I’ve found that focusing on being present and practicing active listening has been a more effective approach.

The mentoring sessions have covered a variety of topics including digital strategy and processes, learning and upskilling, and sharing resources.

How do you think it has helped your personal development? 

It's definitely made me more self-reflective in my own work and processes. And it has made me a better listener in meetings, particularly on Zoom or Teams where it can be easy to get distracted by notifications.

It’s also helped me to recognise the importance of regular learning and development. I’m making more time for it now - I regularly read design books and take courses on LinkedIn Learning.

What is your advice for someone thinking of becoming a mentor? 

I’d recommend booking onto the Effective Skills for Mentors session. It was an ideal introduction and gave me the confidence to go ahead with being a mentor. And if you have any doubts or concerns along the way then get in touch with Organisational Development. They were so helpful and always happy to answer any questions I had.

Find out more about MentorNet from colleagues in Schools and Professional Services Divisions about their experience of being a mentor or mentee.

If you’re interested in learning more about the mentoring programme, you can sign onto one of our workshops starting on 10 October.