By Dr. David Ross, Florida Atlantic

I’ve gone to conferences and seen colleagues show me business cards they’ve attained from others and call this “networking.” Does that truly mean you’ve connected with someone? A strong relationship goes beyond a business card exchange. Whether you’re mentoring or networking, a strong relationship is built through life, not just learning someone’s name or career path.                                                                                                             

By obtaining a deeply developed relationship, you can build a bond for truly effective mentor-mentee relationships. Whether personal or professional, as a mentor or mentee, trust and relationship-building is the most vital part of a mentorship.                                           

As lead professor of doctoral studies at Nova Southeastern University in Florida, I have developed and facilitated many types of relationships and mentorships. As a mentor, I assist younger colleagues or students as they navigate their career through encouragement, coaching, sponsorship, preparation for promotion, and overall helping them develop a sense of purpose. If you are someone’s mentor, it should be your goal to help your mentee gain confidence and grow in their personal and professional life.                      

Through my research studying the different styles of leadership, and teaching classes on educational and organizational leadership, I know the importance of building relationships and connecting people. Without a foundation based on trust, encouragement, and supportive feedback, you create barriers and isolation in a mentorship. This is why I help students, lead conferences, and provide training on leadership, management, strategic planning, critical thinking, team building, and other professional skills.

Mentees, in turn, assist their colleagues by sharing the knowledge acquired from their mentors, which continues the two-way exchange of mentor relationships. By sharing this knowledge, we are growing generations of life-long learners and future leaders. This development happened with one of my doctoral dissertation students, who I now work on publications within a peer-based relationship.                                                                   

I’ve spent most of my career advising others, and I know the relationships I’ve developed have established me as a better professional to now serve students, faculty and staff, and my community. Although mentoring takes time and patience, a true mentor can better the future of our world.                                                                        

To be a successful mentor, you must create an environment where others can be heard and valued—and continue to build strong, trustful relationships for personal and professional growth. 

MORE ABOUT BROTHER ROSS: David Ross previously served as the Southern Provincial Vice President and many different alumni chapter officer roles in the West Palm Beach (FL) Alumni Chapter. He attributes his successful mentorship skills and Deltasig journey to three mentors: Dr. John Cookson, Detroit (night), PGP Kathy Jahnke, and PGP Mitch Simmons. Combined with his work at Nova Southeastern University, Dr. Ross regularly speaks at conferences and provides consultation and training. He has written articles and book chapters on many subjects including organizational stress, academic integrity, and more. Dr. Ross is a co-editor of a book titled Higher Education Challenges for Migrant and Refugee Students in a Global World. He is also a retired Criminal Investigator/Agent with extensive-applied supervisory and field operations experience.

From left: PGP Mitch Simmons and Ross.