Why Mentors Matter

"Recent research suggests that the influence of good mentoring goes way beyond improved vocational performance, although it certainly does that. Good mentors help mentees to feel safe, supported, and seen through feedback (both positive and critical) and other cues. This is how effective mentorship contributes to a sense of psychological safety. Mentees also enjoy a stronger sense of belonging and community, which is why having a good mentor is especially important early in our careers."

"Every profession offers different paths to advancement. In academia, we have taken the path pretty much as far as it can go. We are tenured full professors, and we each chair our respective academic departments. We're well published in academic journals,* and we've hired and mentored plenty of other Ph.D.s through their early careers. We both think mentorship is vital to success in any career."

"We were reminded of this on a recent October afternoon with a colleague who makes our accomplishments look pretty meh. Dr. June Cotte from Ivey Business School took us under her wing for a few hours at a conference in Washington, DC. The time and attention June gave to improving two of our early-stage projects was nothing short of inspirational. In fact, you can think of this whole post as a love letter to people like June and the difference they make in the world."

Mentorship fuels personal and professional growth by strengthening leadership, communication, and empathy skills. Effective mentors provide feedback that helps mentees feel safe, supported, and seen, fostering psychological safety, belonging, and community. Mentors clarify goals, broaden possible futures, and build resilience by guiding learning through struggles and missteps. Mentorship benefits extend beyond vocational performance to renewed identity and purpose. Mentorship remains valuable at all career stages; even tenured senior academics can receive meaningful guidance that improves early-stage projects. Valuable mentorship challenges comfort zones and accelerates development for both mentees and mentors.

Read at Psychology Today