ASA Section on Quality and Productivity (Q&P) Mentoring Program

Quality & Productivity (Q&P) Section Initiates Mentoring Program for its members. The Program is based on a blueprint created by the Committee on Applied Statisticians.

The goal of this initiative is to help members further enrich and enhance their professional experience through achieving personal and professional goals. The program’s specific goals are to connect those wanting mentoring with those wanting to mentor and to facilitate those interactions.

Sharing knowledge, expertise, and experience can be mutually rewarding.  A constructive mentorship relationship can take many forms and may occur at any career stage. Benefits for mentors and mentees include building connections and networks, passing on knowledge, and bridging the gaps among generations. It also matures the statistics profession, identifies emerging talents, and enhances professional relationships.

Interested mentees are matched with senior leaders who have strong professional and training credentials in the application of statistical thinking and tools.   To be involved in a mentoring relationship is a privilege for both mentees and mentors.  As a result, it is important to understand each other’s role.  Below describes the key roles of the mentor and mentee.

Mentor/Mentee Interaction:

Once the Q&P Mentoring Committee communicates a matching to both mentor and mentee, both individuals are expected to become familiar with the other’s professional trajectory and current status. We recommend the mentee and mentor exchange CVs / résumés. If the match meets with approval by both sides, the mentor/mentee pair will be confirmed.

Prior to any interaction, the mentee is responsible for considering the following:

• Skills and interests, including skills that the mentee feels are current strengths and skills that he/she wishes to develop. The two lists need not be long (e.g., 3-5 items each) and may include both methodological/technical and more general professional skills (e.g., analysis of big data, communicating with non-statistical clients, etc.).
• Work/professional goals, including strategic long-term goals (e.g., having a fully sustainable consulting practice within 6-8 years, attaining promotion and/or tenure), as well as more immediate goals (e.g., how to advertise for new clients, milestones to long-term goals).

Ideally, the mentee will communicate a brief summary of her/his thoughts on these issues to the mentor (e.g., a page, possibly in bullet-point format). For those mentee & mentor pairs who will both attend the Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM), having this communication complete a week before JSM will allow time for consideration before meeting at JSM. Otherwise, the Mentoring Committee would like mentee & mentor pairs not attending JSM to have these communication in place by the middle of August.

At JSM, mentor and mentee are expected to meet; please plan at least 1 hour. The Mentoring Committee will strive to facilitate these meetings. The structure of the meeting is flexible and adaptable to the needs and preferences of both individuals. The most effective mentoring interaction is one that works well for both mentor and mentee. The following are only suggestions:

• Establish rapport (10-15 minutes). Discuss professional and life trajectories and find common ground.
• Discuss expectations from the mentoring interaction (10-15 minutes). Is this focused on a very specific issue or potentially more long-term? What will be the end product?
• Discuss goals and develop action plan (40-60 minutes). First, discuss the mentee’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as his/her professional goals (based on the write-up delivered prior to the meeting). Then, for each goal, consider and discuss possible actions and associated timelines. Be as specific as possible. Discuss feasibility, appropriateness, and impact. Explore variations and alternatives. At the end of this interaction, it is desirable to draw up a list of 3-5 actionable items.

If the mentee is satisfied that his/her needs have been met after this initial interaction (or within a few weeks), he/she communicates with the mentor to indicate that no further interaction is necessary. However, if there is a need or desire for further contact, mentor and mentee discuss the expectations and parameters for it, including frequency (effort/time) and mode of contact.

During such subsequent contacts, the mentee’s action plan is reviewed, with specific attention paid to the actionable items and their timelines. Progress towards the stated goals is assessed. Goals and action plan are discussed and adapted as necessary—it is important to be concrete and realistic.

Finally, circumstances may change, and either the mentor or the mentee may feel that the interaction is not productive any more. This should be communicated explicitly and clearly to avoid misunderstandings and unjustified expectations. The Mentoring Committee will assist if asked.

The Mentoring Committee will periodically be in touch with mentor and mentee to assess the progress of the interaction and to obtain brief evaluations for the program.