Encouraging engagement

Tell them their struggle is not unique, that you feel their pain. Acknowledge that research is hard work and that it might not always produce results.

Make sure they understand that making mistakes and enjoying the work is just as important as getting results.

Check-in with them, see if they have any questions, make yourself available to answer questions.

Give them resources to become more independent (literature, websites, books, group presentations, grant proposals, etc.)

Strategically share successes and failures about yourself to build trust but try not to come across as bragging or complaining.

Create and maintain a personal relationship; this will keep an open line of communication and provide support so that they feel comfortable asking questions or voicing concerns.

If you are working together on a project with a mentee, set the expectations about your respective roles for the completion of a project. If there are steps which are more difficult, let them know you will intervene the first couple of times. Otherwise, they might feel discouraged because they are not doing the important stuff and you are using them for the “grunt” work. You should give them a chance to work on difficult tasks and let them feel that you trust them to complete them.

Also set and clearly communicate expectations about the rewards of the work. Is the work expected to result in authorship or a poster presentation? If so, will they be first author, second, not credited? It can be very helpful and motivating to clearly communicate this in advance.