USGS Mentoring Program Information

Mentoring does matter and the mentor and mentoree both win with this great relationship!

Quote from a USGS mentor about his mentoring relationship:

"So far, I'm the winner in this relationship. Seems that despite the chaos of the multiple reorganizations I'm having to work through, I have a critical mission to see through to completion and that's providing a different focus to my worklife, and its becoming a positive force in all I do these days. I think if the organization wants to revitalize a tired (or getting tired) employee, it should pair that person with a mentoree. What a difference it'll make. And the things I've learned... "

What is Mentoring?

A developmental partnership where two people invest time, know-how and effort to enhance growth, knowledge and skills.  This partnership transcends duty and obligation and often involves coaching, networking, sponsoring and career counseling.

Vision and Goals for the USGS Mentoring Program

The vision of the USGS Mentoring Program is to build and sustain a culture that fosters meaningful partnerships and connections among interested employees in order to increase skills, knowledge and satisfaction. The goal of the USGS Mentoring Program is to make mentoring available to every USGS employee as a training and development tool.

Mentoring Matters!

Formal Mentoring for New Employees

“Guided Mentoring for New Employees”

The 1-Year Guided Mentoring Program

Mentoring is a tool designed to help facilitate cost-effective training and development and to encourage professional and personal growth.  The USGS Mentoring Program is composed of two components:  One-Year Guided and Self-Directed.  These two components offer flexibility and allow participation in mentoring to the degree that budget, time and interests allow.  Twice per fiscal year employees with five years or less of USGS service are invited to apply for a mentor and all other USGS employees are invited to apply to be a mentor in the One-Year Guided Program.  Supervisory approval is required for all participants.
Mentoring Pairs are announced along with the date of mandatory two-day training and shadowing of the mentoree to the mentor (travel paid for by Office of Organizational and Employee Development).  In this 2-day shadowing period (with an initial formal training of the shadowing period and a follow up the afternoon of the second day), you will learn the keys to a successful mentoring relationship, start working with your mentor to develop objectives, develop a learning plan and techniques for dealing with communication and scheduling challenges.

The One-Year Guided Program continues to focus on employees (mentorees) with five years or less of USGS service and is designed to help accomplish the following goals in service to science:

Facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration and support of integrated science activities
Accelerate acculturation and increase employee engagement and productivity for newer employees
Improve recruitment and retention
Promote leadership development at all levels
Support professional development

The following outcomes have been reported by participants in the Program:

• Develop trusted counsel
• Improve skills
• Boost job effectiveness
• Increase job satisfaction
• Shorten learning curves
• Enhance risk-taking skills
• Enlarge network
• Become a more effective leader
• Communicate more effectively
• Gain career guidance and a whole host of other benefits.

Self Directed Mentoring Seminars

For USGS employees interested in gaining the benefits of a mentor but not able to commit to the One-Year Guided Mentoring Program we can teach you how to find a mentor and to start your own productive partnership.  To register for a Self-Directed seminar please contact Stacey Clarke at sdclarke@usgs.gov or Kimberly Miller at kfmiller@usgs.gov.  Self-Directed seminars are given via the web and are scheduled quarterly.  Please consult the mentoring webpage at http://training.usgs.gov and click on “Mentoring” for more details.

The 3-hour seminars are open to all USGS employees interested in setting up their own mentoring partnerships.  At the seminar, you’ll get a chance to define your objectives for a mentoring partnership, learn how to find a mentor and structure a productive and rewarding mentoring relationship.  The training also focuses on the role of the mentor, making this class beneficial to both potential mentorees and mentors.

What do Self-Directed mentoring partners work on?

• Skill transfer
• Professional skill development
• Learning more about the USGS
• Networking and making contacts
• Leadership Development

Expectations for USGS Mentors and Mentorees?

Mentorees agree to:

• Initiate communication and expectations with mentor
• Take primary responsibility for their own learning and development
• Keep their immediate supervisor in the loop
• Be open to accept feedback
• Maintain confidentiality

Mentors agree to:

• Have contact with their mentorees on a regular basis
• Help the mentoree understand organizational history, current strategic goals of the organization and possible career opportunities
• Assist the mentoree with establishing networks
• Foster communication and collaboration across the entire Bureau
• Provide advice when requested, coaching, and feedback
• Maintain confidentiality

How Do You Participate in the Mentoring Program?

If you would like to participate in the 1-Year Guided Mentoring Program, please complete the on-line application (http://geology.usgs.gov/usgs/mentoring.htm). All USGS employees are encouraged to view the Introduction to the Mentoring Program here (http://oedbreeze.cr.usgs.gov/mentoringintro/). For more information, contact Kim Miller at 304-347-5130 Ext. 227 or Stacey Clarke at 303-445-4674.

Comparing Components of Both Programs

Both Components of Mentoring Partnerships Share These Features:

• Supervisory Approval Required
• Strongly supported by USGS Leadership
• Keeping your Supervisor in the communication “loop” is required
• Learning Agreement
• Mentoree Individual Development Plan
• Access to USGS delivered training
• A continuously updated website announcing mentoring events and providing tools           

History and Background of the USGS Mentoring Program

As a part of ongoing efforts to enhance recruiting and retention and succession planning, USGS instituted a voluntary pilot mentoring program for new employees in Headquarters and the Eastern Region. The pilot mentoring program ran from mid-January 2000, to mid-July 2000.

The pilot program was intended to help new employees to:

• Become part of the USGS culture more quickly
• Improve/enhance professional skills
• Gain greater insights into career opportunities

The Human Resources Council (HRC) established the need for a bureau-wide Mentoring Program in 1999. A Steering Team was established to provide the overall direction and goals for the program. They provided the initial funding and established a Design Team to design and implement the pilot program. The Design Team, which has representatives from all levels of the USGS worked with two consultants with extensive experience in developing mentoring programs in Government and private industry.

A meeting of all interested employees was held in December so mentors and mentorees could meet and get to know each other. Based on location, indicated preferences, and interests, mentors and mentorees were matched by a committee. Twenty-three pairs representing all divisions, including APS, were matched, and some of the pairs were interdivisional.

The pilot program officially started after the training, and each of the 23 pairs was encouraged to meet at least once every two weeks. The pairs each have a Design Team sponsor who can help them with any question, concerns, or information. Two formal evaluations will occur during the 6 month pilot, one in April and one in July.

Questions About Getting a Mentor or Becoming One?

Kim Miller, the Mentoring Program Manager, can be reached by email at kfmiller@usgs.gov or by phone at 304-347-5130 ext. 227. Stacey Clarke, Deputy Mentoring Program Manager, can be reached by email at sdclarke@usgs.gov or by phone at 303-445-4674. Please feel free to call either one of these people if you have questions or are interested in the mentoring program. We look forward to hearing from you.