Mentoring Impact & Results

The Graduates

• 40 graduates
• Up from 33 the year before and from 25 two years ago.
• 9 were specifically nurse to nurse matches as defined by Magnet
• 33/40 responded to the end of year survey

Mentees Reported

• 91% that their Mentor was able to provide them with the guidance they were hoping for in order to attain their goals.
• 94% created and found it helpful to use an individual development plan
• 85% would highly recommend this program to others
• 97% are interested in paying it forward and willing to become a Mentor in the future

Mentee's reported the following as a result of their participation in the mentoring program

• 67% reported an increase in their job satisfaction
• 76% reported an increase in their job performance
• 56% reported an increase in their plans to stay at Upstate
• 64% reported an increase in their desire to move into higher level positions at Upstate
• 76% reported an increase in their overall engagement
• 67% reported an increase in their pride in Upstate

Some Highlights from current Mentors

• 100% stated that they find their Mentee to be engaged and invested in the experience.
• 100% believe that they have been able to guide, assist, advise their Mentee in a manner that was helpful to them achieving their goals.
• 100% felt well prepared to take on their role as Mentor.
• 99% stated that they are willing to stay on as a Mentor for the future.

Notable Outcomes from Mentees

• My mentor was able to give me perspective on a multitude of managerial and leadership situations and challenges.
• My mentor was able to assist in clarifying my goals and introduced me to a number of people at Upstate that I would not have met otherwise.
• I have become more confident and comfortable handling difficult conversations (repeated multiple times)
• I was able to gain more knowledge and basic understanding to start accumulating helpful information to become the supervisor I want to be
• I learned how to evaluate a situation and determine workflow changes and quality improvements that would positively impact my team
• My mentor was able to shape how I am able to coach my team members. I implemented a shared governance model as a result of our meetings.
• The personal coaching was so valuable! It helped be interview well for a new position and get the job!
• I learned about upstate budgets, leadership structure, processes, and supports
• I learned better work life balance techniques
• I learned more about how policies are created and how to use the system to search through policies find things more efficiently.
• My mentor was an invaluable resource and provided real-world, relevant solutions and suggestions for effectively engaging in difficult conversation with employees.

Notable Outcomes from Mentees

• I have become more confident in everything work related and made me realize I have value within the organization and I shouldn’t' be afraid to use my voice.
• I was able to clarify my values and goals for the next steps in my career.
• I have become more confident with handling conflict (repeated multiple times)
• I gained a great deal of knowledge about being a good leader and how to better communicate overall. (repeated multiple times)
• It gave me great perspective and empathy
• Was able to work on some quality improvement projects
• I feel I have become more outgoing, vocal and able to problem solve better
• The program has built my leadership confidence and validated my style
• I have gained insight on how to navigate my career successfully
• I learned how to build budgets and plan for capital projects
• I have gained so much in the areas of mindfulness, listening, and assertiveness. I am a better version on myself than I was when I started the program.

The Mentor Experience

• 100% believe that they were able to guide their Mentee toward attaining the goals they set out to accomplish.
• Mentors received MANY compliments and notes of gratitude from their Mentees expressing how much they valued their time, experience and guidance.
• Watching my mentee grow gave me the needed boost in my own confidence that I had been lacking recently.
• I learned just as much going through this process and believe we will continue to meet even after the formal process is over.
• Helping my mentee with their professional development made me re-focus on mine as well!
• Mentoring has helped improved my active listening skills
• I absolutely loved this experience and found out so much about Upstate and other departments that I never knew!
• I just love to watch some grow and strive to be the best they can be! The shared learning that occurs is amazing!
• I truly enjoyed being a resource and support to an up and coming leader
• It gave me great perspective and caused me to re-think about how I currently handle situation and perhaps revisit my own style with my team.
• This program is such a great, positive, and gratifying experience.
• This program is so CRITICAL! It IS making a difference individually and collectively in this organization.

Where are they now?

• We continue to monitor all the graduates of the mentoring program for long term results.
• In 2021-22 we had 25 graduates. 21 are still here at Upstate, 7 have received promotions, and 6 have become Mentors in our program.
• In 2022-23 we had 33 graduates. 31 are still here at Upstate, 14 have received promotions, and 5 have become Mentors in the program.

Heading into year 4

• We have paired 43 people for the coming year.
• We continue to partner with Nursing to promote Nurse to Nurse mentorships under this program's umbrella therefore meeting a Magnet standard and the ability to showcase many successful stories. (nurse to nurse matches have doubled to 18 for the year ahead)
• We are so very thankful to have nearly 100 dedicated Mentors in our program for whom without this program would not be possible.
• For more information about becoming a Mentor or going through the program as a Mentee, please contact MaryAnn Stark at [email protected]
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

By the Numbers

• Graduated 33 participants – that is 8 more than in year one.
• 9 of them were RN to RN matches and 9 were part of a micro credential program .
• 3 additional participants were out for various reasons and will continue with their experience in year 3.
• 7 others were originally involved but 3 ended up leaving Upstate and 4 withdrew from the program about mid year because they were not able to actively participate.
• 21 mentees and 15 mentors responded to the end of year survey.

From the Mentees: Program Perspective

• 90% created a development plan to follow
• 95% stated that their Mentor provided them with the guidance they needed to obtain their goals
• 86% would highly recommend the Mentoring program to others
• 95% would consider staying engaged with the program and becoming a Mentor in the future

From the Mentees: Impact Due to their Participation in the Program

• 57% reported an increase in their job satisfaction
• 57% reported an increase in their job performance
• 43% reported an increase in their interest in moving into a higher-level position at Upstate
• 76% reported an increase in their overall engagement
• 67% reported an increase in their overall pride in working at Upstate

From the Mentees: Noteworthy Outcomes

• My mentoring experience taught me to have a less rigid approach with employees which resulted in better relationships, understanding, and cooperation.
• I was able to bring on a new program without increasing budget costs now that I was able to create partnerships with other areas and network.
• I obtained a new certification and a new position.
• I have developed more confidence in my abilities as a leader and greater awareness of the resources here to support me.
• I have a better understanding of day-to-day hospital operations through shadow opportunities with multiple stakeholders.
• I have more confidence in what I am doing and where I want to go next.
• I have met so many people that I would have never done without this program.
• The program kept me accountable to achieving my goals .
• I sometimes feel in my own little bubble, so it was great to see a different perspective .
• I have become more willing to see other points of views and realize a solution can come in many forms .
• It has opened my eyes to growth opportunities here at Upstate.
• I feel I have become a better leader to my team.
• I have gained so much confidence and increased my knowledge overall .
• I feel I can make better decisions now and help my team resolve problems .
• The mentoring experience allowed me to exhale in a safe place regarding my first year as a manager.
• Helped me shaped a new understanding; how to approach things differently to get a better result.
• My mentor has walked me through some tough times when my supervisor wouldn’t/couldn’t.
• I have learned by staying calm that I can de-escalate situations.. My mentor has taught me how to be graceful.

The Mentor Experience

• 100% believed that they were able to guide their Mentee toward attaining the goals that they set out to accomplish.
• MANY compliments and notes of gratitude were receiv ed from the Mentees about the Mentors themselves… valuing their time, experience, and guidance
• Mentoring for me gets me out of the day-to-day firefighting and brings me back to being thoughtful about leadership, re-committing to my own values, and leadership philosophy .
• Very eye opening to see/hear about the struggles of other departments and new managers... got me out of my silo and learned more about a whole other area of the institution.
• As a mentor, I believe I am getting better at supporting and helping others make their own decisions rather than just giving my advice.
• It was wonderful to connect with and guide someone from a different area, you really build a great relationship with them and watch them grow into their own.
• It's been a long time since I was a first line supervisor, so this was a good reminder for me about those issues and how I need to be
  more aware of them within my own area
• I was extremely proud of the work my mentee did and it was a pleasure to watch her grow and be part of that!
• The experience challenged me to apply a variety of communication and coaching styles to become as effective as I could with my mentee.
• I think I learned just as much from my Mentee as I hope they did from me!
• This is a fantastic program that I hope more managers will support… I appreciated the structure of the program and the training and support given along the way.

Wher Are They Now?

As a relatively new program, it is important to track long term results as well. Graduates of the program will be followed for the next few years to determine any long term outcomes from their experience. Our first set of data on them shows the following...

Of the 25 mentees who went through the program a year ago (2021-22) Now a year later...

• 6 of them have become Mentors in the program
• 7 have received internal promotions
• 3 no longer work at Upstate

Heading Into Year 3

Heading into year three, we continue to see interest and growth in the program overall.

• We continue our relationship with the Department of Nursing to provide nursing mentorship which also provides opportunities to create success stories for Magnet. At the writing of this document we have increased to 12 RN to RN matches. (up 3 from the previous year)
• The program started with 34 Mentors and today we have 85!
• We have also partnered with the College of Health Professions to develop their internal mentoring program with 10 matches within the department.
• We need to continue to create awareness about this opportunity through a variety of communication channels so that as many
  people as possible can benefit from this experience and in turn strengthen Upstate overall.

“I recommend it for everyone, whether it’s after 6 months or 16 years, it is such a huge game
changer and need for every employee to experience. This organization especially given the diverse
work environments between onsite, hybrid, remote, needs that special touch from the mentor
relationship. I've gotten more out of this program than I have from any yearly assessment
or development opportunities. Thank you so very much, I feel very fortunate to work at Upstate."

Background

In previous years, the organization has dabbled with the idea of mentoring and from time to time had informally introduced people when there was a request but nothing was ever officially established. But 2020 marked a turning point in Mentoring at SUNY Upstate when it became a priority and focal point of Professional Development & Learning to take on under their vast array of services.

Formulation of the Program

Under the leadership of Mary Ann Stark, Senior Organizational Development Strategist, the program began to take shape using a variety of resources from SUNY. Materials were developed for both Mentors and Mentees which included position description, applications, and training. A new website was also developed to house all the materials and resources.

Once the plan was ready, information was distributed to the campus in an effort to cast the net wide to recruit Mentors. This primarily occurred through Management Forum communications and nominations. 34 people said yes to this call. They all went through an orientation and training program to prepare for the Mentees.

Announcements went out once again about the program this time seeking applications for Mentees. We received 25 applicants. The Mentees went through their own orientation and training. Mentees created Individual Development Plans and reviewed all the Mentor applications and biographies to determine who might be a perfect match for them and their desired goals. They then were allowed to submit their top 3-4 choices for potential matches.

Once everyone was matched, the pairs agreed to meet at least once per month over the next 12 months. Each relationship developed as the Mentor and Mentee needed and used the Individual Development plan as their guide. Mentors were encouraged to provide sage guidance and open experiential opportunities to their Mentee as often as possible along the way.

At the 6-month Mark

Mentors and Mentees were surveyed at six months about the program. Here is a summary of the findings at that time:

From the Mentors (16/25 responded)

• Over 86% were meeting monthly with their Mentees.
• 100% stated they anticipated continuing to meet with their person over the next 6 months.
• 100% stated that they found their Mentee to be engaged and invested in the experience. 100% believed that they have been able to guide, assist, advise their Mentee in a manner that was helpful to them achieving their goals.
• 100% felt well prepared to take on their role as Mentor.
• Nearly 88% responded favorably to meeting together as Mentors to share experiences and exchange ideas
• 99% stated that they were willing to stay on as a Mentor for the future.

From the Mentees (17/25 responded)

94% stated their Mentor had been able to provide them with the guidance they were hoping for...quoting specifically:

I have made connections with various individuals and groups at Upstate that I would not have otherwise been in contact with

I have developed more confidence in my abilities and what I bring to this institution - My mentor has helped me find my voice and encouraged using it in appropriate settings

My mentor has guided me with the development of a proposal for an initiative that I've been working on for a while and gave me the confidence to complete it and share it with others

My confidence in addressing difficult situations with staff has improved

I have already gone to my supervisor and asked for feedback and expressed that I wanted to grow more and take on more responsibility

My mentor invited me to get involved with strategy meetings which was very helpful for my career development at Upstate through exposure to senior leadership

Mentee comments about the program overall... quoting specifically:

• This is such a great experience! Thank you!
• Valuable program, valuable mentors, valuable experience! Please continue it so others can experience!
• I've been very pleased with the program and my mentor has been excellent!
• All positive, thank you for this opportunity, awesome program. I hope it continues
• It's been so helpful - being new to management is a very lonely spot so just having my mentor to talk to is so beneficial.
• This is one of the most valuable experiences I have had the privilege to take part in - We are
• very lucky here at Upstate to have this opportunity.
• I love being part of this program and feel extremely blessed.

From this feedback, an additional meeting/training session with the Mentors was coordin at ed. Mentors were able to share best practices with one another and ask questions to the group about situations they were running into and advise each other on how they might go about handling it. Additional resources were identified and added to the website. This was so valuable that the group agreed to continue even if attendance was optional.

End of Year One Results

At the end of the program (12 months of the mentoring relationships) we surveyed the Mentors and Mentees again to assess the program, satisfaction and outcomes. 15/25 Mentors responded and 19/25 Mentees responded.

• 100 % of the Mentors (15/15) believed they were able to provide their Mentee with the guidance they needed to accomplish most of their goals.

• 90% (17/19) of the Mentees believed their Mentor was able to provide them with the guidance they needed to accomplish their goals.

• 95% of the Mentees found the development plan useful to the mentoring process (18/19)

• 100% of the Mentees would recommend the program to others

• 100% of the Mentees would consider becoming a Mentor in the program at some point. (5 already have!)

• 100% commented that they hope the program continues to be offered and grows. They were very thankful for the experience.

Specific items that Mentors said they worked on with their Mentees...

• Discussed credentials, certifications and degrees that would help advance career options

• Created a business proposal with FTE allocations

• Helped with time management skills

• Helped build confidence and find their voice regarding promotion related efforts. Talked about the role of a leader and what leadership looks like in action.

• Explored ways to become part of Upstate internally and externally and opportunities to increase exposure and advance his career .

• Built confidence with managing employee issues.

• Helped worked through issues related to being a first-time manager

• Improved coding through collaboration with the physician t eam .

• Showed how Upstate collects, reports, and analyzes its quality data

• Guided through some employee challenges

• Work-life balance strategies

• Connecting with others working in fields she was interested in

• Assisted with a professional conflict

Mentees noted the following specific outcomes from their engagement with their Mentors...quoting specifically:

• I was able to give my staff audit report

• Improved my ability to navigate and handle difficult situations and conversations

• I was promoted!

• My mentor was very supportive and gave me wonderful advice...it helped me branch out and apply for new opportunities - which I got!

• I learned how to ask for more feedback from my manager

• I have gained numerous resources and working relationships and expanded my understanding of hospital operations.

• Helped me make a smooth transition into a new position and advocate for myself so that I was compensated appropriately.

• Increased my communication skills that helped me resolve a conflict

• A better understanding of planning and responsibilities at Community

• I developed a proposal for a new idea and was able to present it to department leaders

• I was promoted into a management position and learned skills that helped me in my new role

• I started my master's degree and was able to become involved in the Nappi project

• I received a 20% raise thanks to the guidance my mentor provided

• I was introduced to data visualization through Tableau

• I was motivated to go back to school and further my education

• I learned how to delegate to my employees more easily

How Mentees say they have changed because of their Mentoring experience ...quoting

specifically:

• I have a different outlook on management

• I gained confidence (stated by 8 mentees)

• I become a better supervisor

• I gained a better perspective on the institution as a whole

• I have become more assertive and a better communicator, especially at meetings

• I learned how to better manage my expectations and have greater work life balance

• I realized that my goals are indeed attainable and that there are people here to help you

• It felt really good to work with a different department than what I was used to... It validated my experience and knowledge

• I am more invested in my professional development and networking now

• I am more motivated and re-energized!

Mentees were asked if/how their participation in the Mentoring Program affected the following areas:

This chart shows a significant increase in the mentees job satisfaction, interest in staying at Upstate and pursuing higher level opportunities, their overall engagement and pride in the organization because of the mentoring program.

How the Mentors grew as well...quoting specifically:

• I was so inspired to watch my mentee grow and gained a new perspective overall

• It was so fulfilling to help guide someone else.... Such a rewarding experience It certainly

  'Ji/led my cup"

• I saw a lot of myself in my mentee, it reminded me that no matter where we are on the journey, there is still room to grow. There is always another lens to look through

• I enjoyed learning about another department and it really enhanced my own confidence as a leader

• I think I became a better listener

• I feel like a developed a new friendship with my mentee

• Gained a new perspective from someone in a completely different role than mine

• I realized through my mentee's experiences that I need to be more mindful to provide coaching and support to my employees and to really listen when they approach me. I need to assure my own team of my support for their own continual growth and development and be sure I am fostering that environment

In conclusion and going forward

The success of the Mentoring program at Upstate indicates a strong need for this type of relationship and networking experience here at Upstate. It is an integral part of staff development and succession planning.

Going into year two, the excitement around the program continues to grow! Currently, the number of Mentors has doubled and the second round of Mentees have been matched with now 40 pairings.

The program has also expanded from interprofessional staff to include specific elements for Nursing and Faculty as well. In addition, mentoring is now a required component of two of the Microcredential programs being offered through Professional Development & Learning.

Long term, we should continue to monitor the progress of those who go through this program and find ways to continue to expand its reach.