Tomorrow, Tuesday 27 October, is National Mentoring Day, and it always makes me think about the people who helped me along the way.
I’ve been fortunate. At different points in my career, from policing to psychology, I’ve been supported by some fabulous people and mentors who took the time to share what they knew and back me. I didn’t always see how much that mattered until later.
So every year I mentor undergraduate students at the School of Psychology at Queen’s University Belfast, where I studied, through the school’s Psychology at Work mentoring. It’s my way of giving something back.
It isn’t one-way, either. A 2013 meta-analysis found that mentors reported higher job satisfaction and commitment than people who didn’t mentor.
If you’re looking for support yourself, it’s worth being clear what kind. People often mix up mentoring and coaching. A mentor has walked your road and passes on what they know: how the place works and what they’d do in your shoes. A coach doesn’t need to have done your job. Their skill is helping you think, and the answer stays with you.
Here’s a simple test. If the gap is knowledge or contacts, find a mentor. If you know what to do but pressure keeps getting in the way, that’s coaching territory.
Mentoring helps people who receive it too, with a catch. A 2004 meta-analysis found mentored people were more satisfied with their careers, though the effects on pay and promotion were small.
If someone once did that for you, this might be a good week to pass it on.