Development Monthly | #42 April 2025 | Everyday Impact: Rethinking Engagement in HE
“The titular two words, hailed across lecture theatres, lunch halls and office kitchenettes alike, must be one of my favourite phrases. Why? Because we all hold a shared understanding of their inherent meaning.”
Coffee
As my loyalty app is keen to remind me, my favourite coffee is a skinny white mocha (no cream, but yes, I will still take the chocolate sprinkles). Whilst the connoisseurs amongst you may have discerned which of the largest coffee companies in the world I tend to procure my over-priced beverages from (alternative coffee chains are available), my point is that your favourite coffee may be any of the seemingly endless varieties of bean, milk and syrup, or not even a coffee at all… but what we transnationally mean by ‘coffee’ is really ‘conversation’. This has been the case in coffee houses, sometimes referred to as ‘schools for the wise’, for a millennium.
Anyone?
So, who to take with you to your preferred school for the wise? Again, what we really mean by ‘anyone’ is ‘someone with whom to hold the best conversation possible during the break time allocated by my pay master’. But how is this professional development I hear you cry (in between sips of coffee)?! Well, let me share my reflections on the timeless conversational power of the coffee shop as an integral part of career coaching and/or mentoring.
Firstly, a caveat, these are my own reflections over the best part of a decade of being both a mentee and a mentor myself. I always recommend adapting for your own preferences as you will only be able to make the most of your coaching and/or mentoring experiences if the situation feels right for you. Indeed, the inspiration for this article is a relatively recent promotion that I directly attribute to my AHEP (shameless plug) career mentor.
Space and Time
The coffee shop is a powerful place, less formal than a meeting room but more professional than a pub (at least for the first meeting anyway…). They cater to whatever time or spectrum of formal dress suits, pre-, during, post- or outside working hours. I also find that bakery selection and analysis works rather well as an ice breaker.
Connection Error
If the pandemic has taught us anything long-lasting, it is the power of in-person communication. A public and social space, where the disc of doom does not interrupt the sound or freeze the picture on your black mirror, enables the natural flow of conversation. Discussing your career face-to-face and making real world eye contact (but not too much as to scare away your chosen ‘anyone’) is also invaluable interview preparation.
Internal Monologue
Many institutions offer internal mentoring programmes packed with experienced mentors but consider engaging with the mentoring programmes of professional bodies or similar. Personally, I have found that these opportunities offer different perspectives and insight into problem-solving and sharing best practice.
Organisation and Outcomes
Prepare key concerns about challenges and barriers that you are seeking to overcome in your day-to-day work and overall career ambitions. Note down all actions arising from your discussion and make sure to reflect on the success of putting theory into practice next time. Placing equal emphasis on the importance of identifying areas for improvement and also celebrating your personal and professional achievements, is fundamental for developing a positive growth mindset.
Double Act
Finally, do not be afraid to have multiple mentors. They can offer a second opinion, which is often useful when navigating difficult decisions! I would like to thank my own mentors and mentees for inspiring this article and my institution for providing the staff discount at my favourite ‘school for the wise’.
Want to find out more about AHEP Mentoring?
0 comments on “Coffee Anyone? The Conversational Power of the Coffee Shop and Similar Spaces”