CoxHealth Young Professionals Mentoring Study Mitch Harris Rachel Hutchison Chase Snider Samantha Williams
Jul 17, 2015
CoxHealth Young ProfessionalsMentoring Study
Mitch Harris
Rachel Hutchison
Chase Snider
Samantha Williams
Study Objectives
Purpose: To evaluate the overall effectiveness of the CoxHealth Young Professionals (CYP) program from the mentors’ perspective
RQ: How do current and past mentors evaluate the CoxHealth Young Professionals (CYP) mentoring program?
Organizational Mentoring
FunctionsGuide to open doors
Establish role in organization
BenefitsIncreased retention
Increased buy-in
Effective succession planning
DefinitionsSupport system arrangement between experienced senior executive and a less-experienced executive
Participants
Male 45%
Female55%
Sex
Married95%
Divorced5%
Marital Status
Caucasian/White95%
Hispanic/ Latin5%
Ethnicity
Participants
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69
Fre
qu
en
cy
Age Range
Age Distribution
Participants
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39
Fre
qu
en
cy
Number of Years
Years at CoxHealth
Participants
35%
35%
30%
Number of Mentee Relationships per Mentor
1 mentee
2 mentees
3 mentees
10%
20%
20%
50%
Years as Mentor
Less than 1year
1 year
2 years
3 years
Methodology
Data Collection Method in-depth semi-structured interviews
Interviewing Period September 25, 2014 – October 13, 2014
Mentors Interviewed N = 20
Length of Interviews 16:03 minutes – 48:38 minutesM = 26:56 minutes
Data Analysis Process Constant Comparative Analysis182 single-spaced pages of transcripts
Research Findings
Why did you initially become a mentor in the CoxHealth Young Professionals mentoring program?
• Personal Responsibility: the obligation mentors felt as leaders
• Organizational Benefits: contributes to the overall growth of the organization
Research Findings
What is the role of a mentor in the CYP program?
• Support System: source of influence for mentees through career advice
• Feedback for Mentee: source of advice based on mentors’ past experience
Research Findings
Being a CYP mentor is like ____________.
Friend
Family
Teacher
Investment
Opportunity
Research Findings
What issues were you unsure or uncertain about prior to your first meeting with your first mentee?
• Program Time Commitment: having enough time to fully commit to the success of the mentee and the mentoring experience
• Program Expectations: uncertainties regarding the definition of the program expectations
• None
Research Findings
Overall, has the CYP mentoring program met your expectations and needs?
No (25%) Yes (75%)
Research Findings
In your opinion, what are the strengths of the CYP mentoring program as a whole?
• Investing in Young Professionals: planning for succession in CoxHealth leadership
• Making Connections for Mentors: opportunities to build relationships within CoxHealth
Research Findings
What are the weaknesses of the CYP mentoring program as a whole?
• Lack of Structure: lack of planned events
• Mentors’ Lack of Time: flexibility of scheduling and last-minute time constraints
• Mentors Unsure if Meeting the Needs of Mentees: concern over needs of mentees being met
Recommendations
1. Increase Structure of the CYP Program
– Provide a specific amount of scheduled professional development opportunities
– Program expectations need to be more clearly defined
Recommendations
2. Provide Clear Time Commitment Outline
– Continue to allow mentors to establish individual meeting times
– Define time commitment in documented outline
– CYP newsletter or emails sent to all mentors and mentees
Recommendations
3. Prevent Initial Mentor Dissonance
– Improve screening process (questionnaire)
– Suggest discussion of the mentees’ goals in the first meeting
– Align mentee career goals to mentors’ career field