Self-Talk: Mentoring and Empowering Faculty to Contribute to Organizational Change

ABSTRACT

We can effectively mentor if in possession of qualities to empower mentees, which include: effective communication skills, knowledge of the professional realm, enthusiasm, passion and the ability to create an equitable and supportive organizational environment with the mentee. The authors of this article propose that self-talk (ST) or inner speech is a helpful means of inspiring mentors, colleagues, teachers, and friends in navigating communication challenges with themselves and others. A three-step approach to implementing ST for the purpose of mentoring involves: (1) awareness of the ST they are currently using; (2) follow-up with the mentee’s active reflection of and recording of the ST, and finally, (3) actions that change their use of ST. While conversations in social speech serve as the primary method for communicating with others, this article implores that ST has a variety of functions that are situation specific and transformational.

KEYWORDS:

• Sport and exercise psychology
• administration
• leadership
• kinesiology

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.