This is a really useful post for me, as I'm currently trying to improve my mentoring/supporting skills. It's great to read from someone who's recently gone through it from the other perspective.
Pair
I've found this to be particularly helpful. (No surprise, I guess.) There are a couple of different versions of this: pairing on their work, and pairing on my work.
When pairing on their work, I try to take a backseat and try to coach them through it. I have to resist the urge to just take over -- with mixed results, it has to be said.
When pairing on my work, we're equals. Thoughts/suggestions/ideas are always welcome, and often handy. Just recently, I was looking at a particularly hairy intermittent bug with a new dev. He quickly found a much more reliable way to recreate the problem. In doing so, the problem practically solved itself. It was a fantastic moment for both of us -- he took a lot of confidence from it ... and got to see me toil and struggle.
Have a Book Club
I love this suggestion. I've recommended a few books, but the idea of a discussion group takes it to the next level. I might start doing this.
Thanks for the article, Caitlyn!
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This is a really useful post for me, as I'm currently trying to improve my mentoring/supporting skills. It's great to read from someone who's recently gone through it from the other perspective.
I've found this to be particularly helpful. (No surprise, I guess.) There are a couple of different versions of this: pairing on their work, and pairing on my work.
When pairing on their work, I try to take a backseat and try to coach them through it. I have to resist the urge to just take over -- with mixed results, it has to be said.
When pairing on my work, we're equals. Thoughts/suggestions/ideas are always welcome, and often handy. Just recently, I was looking at a particularly hairy intermittent bug with a new dev. He quickly found a much more reliable way to recreate the problem. In doing so, the problem practically solved itself. It was a fantastic moment for both of us -- he took a lot of confidence from it ... and got to see me toil and struggle.
I love this suggestion. I've recommended a few books, but the idea of a discussion group takes it to the next level. I might start doing this.
Thanks for the article, Caitlyn!