Biophysical Society Bulletin | September 2022

Career Development

TheArt of GivingandReceivingAdvice Age and experience give many

to hear: “… but of course, you’ll do exactly what I’ve suggest ed.” Although the advice was packaged neatly, it came with a strong expectation that it would be followed, especially as it had come from a superior. It became clear to me that his wisdom was most effective to my stubborn mind when used to guide my understanding of a situation and least effective when he told me exactly how to handle it. In the end, what is the best way to deal with receiving unso licited advice? Communication is successful when it is formu lated with intent and clarity, transmitted well (choosing the method and timing well), and finally when it is well received. Begin with listening—ask questions to clarify and seek to understand your mentor’s perspective. This writer regrets rejecting certain advice given at key moments in his career simply because he did not take the time to understand it. Advice, whether followed or not, is still a helpful part of gath ering information and making informed choices to handle the twists and turns of life and careers. Once you’ve taken time to respectfully understand your mentor’s advice, give yourself permission to evaluate it against your own experiences and motivations. What might have worked for your advisor in a certain time and place, may not work for you here and now. While you should certainly make the choice that makes the most sense for you, aim to communicate your appreciation for your mentor’s intention: to help you grow and avoid pitfalls. — Molly Cule

mentors a wealth of wisdom to pass down to the early career scientists in their lives. While it can be frustrating to see a mentee stumble on the same mistakes you once made, it is even worse to see them stumble on a mistake you told them to avoid! It is worthwhile in these moments for advisors to remember how much can

be learned from failure—from gathering one’s own individual experiences and learning through self-reflection. While all the best advice may be ignored, a mentor can still help their men tee grow in the right direction by guiding those self-conver sations. On the other side of the table, mentees should feel empowered to make their own choices (and mistakes) while staying open to the lived experiences of their mentors. A previous advisor of this writer had the rare talent of listening actively to the person in front of him. He wanted to hear about your thoughts and feelings and your view of a situation. Rather than feeling pushed in a particular direction, the approach made mentees feel invested in and empow ered. This was an amazing ability: those who went into his office depressed and despondent, came out energized and passionate! Many even found that their thoughts and plans had been subtly refined by the end of the conversation. Still, this headstrong writer, even with this typically helpful mentor, on a few occasions reached the end of the conversation only

PUI Network Recurring Networking Events The Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUI) Network is a group for members who are interested in or currently build ing their career at a PUI and hosts various events to connect like-minded peers. The PUI Network was proud to host a Catalyst Idea Mash, a recurring virtual networking event, on July 27, 2022. These sessions provide an informal space for peers around the world to meet and share ideas, triumphs, and frustrations

related to a career at a PUI. At this particular session, attend ees at all career levels shared tips on building a career in a PUI and how to prepare for tenure transition. During the facili tated discussion, attendees gained a greater understanding of the components of a tenure dossier and how to find out which of those components are most valued by their institu tion. Attendees also had the benefit of receiving notes from the discussion to view during and after the event. ATTEND THE NEXT EVENT! The PUI Network will host its next virtual idea sharing event on October 12, 2022 at 10:00 AM USA Eastern Time. Registration is free for BPS members and only $15 for non-members. Register to save your seat by visiting the BPS Store at www.biophysics.org/store.

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