Set4ANU Mentors Lean Into Their Strengths to Help New Students
there are psychological benefits to focusing on what we do well, as opposed to trying to fix things that we do not do as well
Set4ANU is a transition-focused peer mentoring program that pairs later year students with new students. During the eight-week program, mentors act as a friendly face around campus, helping new students to get acquainted with university life. Students registrations are open until 11:59pm (AEST) Friday, 12 July.
Research shows that there are psychological benefits to focusing on what we do well, as opposed to trying to fix things that we do not do as well (Gradito Dubord & Forest, 2023; Meyers et al., 2015).
This is known as a strengths approach.
Strengths approaches have been shown to be very useful for students in helping them to orient themselves in a period of transition. Even from when mentors join the Set4ANU Program, an understanding of 'strengths' sits as the basis for how to approach training and development. Mentors attend training where they reflect on the types of problems that they are most apt at solving and what strengths they may bring to a mentoring relationship. Then, through the program, mentors are encouraged to continually reflect on how they are leaning on their unique strengths to assist their mentees in their transition to university. Mentors receive a guided reflection notebook that allows them a space to explore how they may wish to cultivate their strengths and ensure they are continually calling on them in their day-to-day activities.
Gallup's CliftonStrengths Assessment, born out of the question "What would happen if we studied what was right with people versus what's wrong with people" has helped mentors to understand their unique strengths.
The CliftonStrengths Assessment results in a report that provides participants with an explanation and ranking (based on frequency of use) of their strengths. Based on the idea of promoting an awareness of strengths, some mentors within the Set4ANU Program embarked on further development of their strengths by completing this assessment and participating in development workshops.
These mentors equipped themselves with a deep understanding of strengths and a strengths-based approach and brought this with them to their mentoring activities.
From these workshops, mentors gained a better understanding of what made them and others unique and helped them to understand how to approach challenges.
Mentees ultimately benefit from this approach as well, as mentors encourage them to pivot their perspectives towards a strengths-based perspective as well.
Mentors are there to support and ultimately celebrate the growth and application of their mentees' strengths during their transition.
If you are interested in finding a strengths-based student mentor, register to be a mentee today!
If you have any questions, or would like to get in touch with the Student Life team, email us at student.life@anu.edu.au.
