The ATA Chronicle - September/October 2024 - 20

The More Rewarding Way to Manage Risk
So, How Should Effective Mentorship Manifest?
The foundation lies in exemplifying professionalism, which
is about effort and genuine concern, not just mastering every
intricacy. We need to emphasize both soft and hard skills.
Build and sustain trust. By actively listening, consistently
engaging, and understanding their aspirations, you can truly
guide mentees.
Show, don't just tell. Provide rationale for your approaches.
Encourage mentees to grapple with challenges, stepping
in sparingly, just enough to maintain momentum. Think of
interpreting as a muscle, honed by consistent, real-world practice.
Regular dialogues are crucial. Choose conducive environments
for feedback, like a relaxed café setting. Delve into a mentee's
reflection and foster introspection. Ask questions like, " How do
you think you did? " and " What do you think you could have done
better? " Celebrate their achievements before offering constructive
criticism to promote growth without denting confidence.
While the idea of mentorship might seem daunting to
some-fearing inexperience or lack of time-it's imperative
to realize that mentorship isn't just academia's responsibility.
If we recognize a dearth of language services professionals,
by extension, there's a mentorship deficit. Overcoming this
requires cultivating a " mentoring spirit. "
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Think holistically. Throughout life, mentors arise, guiding
us in various spheres, not just professionally. It's the same in
language services. Leverage different expertise, from business
acumen to linguistics. Share your strengths, be it impeccable
organization or niche knowledge. A brief chat, a forum post, or
sharing experiences can be invaluable. The joy you derive from
helping others is an unmatched reward.
Embodying the mentoring spirit means proactively uplifting
others, sharing experiences, and perpetuating growth. Let's
redefine mentorship, challenging archaic practices and
embracing a holistic, everyday approach. It's about being more
than just mentors; it's about personifying the very essence
of mentorship.
Shawn Norris is an experienced language
access leader, holding key roles such as president
of the Florida Registry of Interpreters for the
Deaf and commissioner for the Certification
Commission for Healthcare Interpreters.
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20 The ATA Chronicle | September/October 2024
Raised by Deaf parents, he's a passionate advocate for the
Deaf community with over a decade of experience in the
interpreting field. He founded a local agency in Jacksonville,
Florida, enhancing language accessibility, and is now the
chief operating officer of AI Deaf, focusing on advancing
video remote interpreting services. He's also developing Hello
Interpreters, an online community for language professionals.
shawn@hellointerpreters.com
www.atanet.org
http://www.alliant.com/ata http://www.atanet.org
The ATA Chronicle - September/October 2024

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