Written by Maryam Gangat (1) 

Sir Isaac Newton once said, “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants” (Popova, 2016). Young professionals require assistance in navigating the uncertain paths in life, including achieving career goals and persevering through failure and hardship. Mentorship allows individuals  an opportunity to draw on the wisdom of learned peers and experts to develop a professional identity (McKimm, Jollie & Hatter, 2007).

In a presentation at the 2019 PsySSA Student Division Mentorship Awards, Ms Anne Kramers-Olen explained the importance of mentorship and defined it as “a reciprocal, active engagement between the mentor and mentee to capacitate professional development”. The American Psychological Association (APA, 2006) defines mentorship as the relationship between mentor and mentee. A mentee is an inexperienced individual who is seeking personal or professional guidance while a mentor is an individual who has the expertise to provide the guidance required (APA, 2006). The mentor performs tasks of teaching, caring, helping, and offering constructive criticism to the mentee in both personal and professional areas of the mentee’s life (APA, 2006).

Mentorship as a reciprocal relationship                                                               

The benefits of mentorship for mentees include, but are not limited to, pragmatic support regarding academic or occupational systems, networking, emotional support, professional identity development, collaborative research, career advice and assistance with multicultural considerations and ethical challenges (APA, 2006). While this may seem like a one-sided affair, there are many benefits which accrue to the mentor. These include exposure to an alternative point of view, an opportunity to challenge their abilities and knowledge and to develop leadership skills (Runyon, 2020).

Mentorship as a source of learning

The number of individuals entering undergraduate Psychology degrees has steadily increased with effects including large classes, a lack of lecturer-student support and a decrease in the development of skills such as critical analysis (Carolissen, Sheffer,& Smit, 2015). Mentors are capable of gauging the appropriate level at which to challenge and support the mentee providing a unique and individualized learning experience (Zachary, 2002). The mentorship relationship provides a competitive advantage in that individual has access to academic resources and expertise of the mentor.

Mentorship as guiding personal and professional development

Research suggests that individuals who receive professional mentorship enjoy their work more, have accelerated career progress and are more dedicated to the psychological profession (APA, 2006). Mentors provide critical, yet constructive, feedback regarding areas in which the mentee requires improvement (APA, 2006). The mentor may assist the mentee in setting realistic career goals to achieve mastery in identified areas.

Mentorship is an opportunity for role modelling and the development of leadership skills

Through their numerous interactions, mentees can observe how their mentors engage with patients, students and other professionals. Mentees can adopt or adapt some of their mentor’s qualities and effective behaviours according to their prerogative. Mentors play an important role in guiding a mentee to expand their vision and enable them to see new possibilities (Day, 2006). This responsible role requires a mentor to develop and improve leadership abilities and self-reflective capacity. 

Develop techniques for collaborating and networking

A mentor may assist a mentee to build and broaden their network by introducing them to contacts within their already established network. This exposes the mentee to numerous contacts who can provide opportunities for developing new skills and gaining access to available career opportunities (APA, 2006). As a mentor, this may prove advantageous as it provides the opportunity to cultivate collaborators for current or future projects (APA, 2006). 

Gain emotional support and encouragement

Emotional support is an aspect of mentorship which is often neglected. Mentors should motivate mentees to persevere through adversity. A mentor may often act as a sounding board to the mentee, whereby the mentee can confide in the mentor regarding the challenges that they might be facing (Day, 2006). The role of the mentor is to assist the mentee to work through these challenges and to offer suggestions while respecting the mentee’s right to agency (APA, 2016). Mentors may often gain intrinsic satisfaction from these interactions by engaging the curiosities of the mentee and fulfilling their social responsibility of preparing the next generation of intellectual leaders (Palmer, 2019).

Strong, positive interpersonal relationships are the foundation for most of life’s rewards and successes, the sentiment holds true for mentorship. The PsySSA Student Division strives to make this learning opportunity available to our members through the Mentorship Programme. We invite students to send in their applications in hopes of enjoying the benefits divulged above.

(1) The author writes in her capacity as a member of the Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA) Student Division, and the Chairperson of Research Into Student Empowerment (RISE).   

References 

American Psychological Association. (2006). Introduction to Mentoring. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/education/grad/intro-mentoring.pdf

Carolissen, R., Shefer, T. & Smit, E. (2015). A critical review of practices of inclusion and exclusion in the psychology curriculum in higher education.

Day, A. (2006). The Power of Social Support: Mentoring and Resilience. Retrieved from: https://s3.amazonaws.com/academia.edu.documents/5175273/res007_the_power_of_social_support_mentoring_and_resilience.pdf

McKimm, J., Jollie & Hatter, M. (2007). Mentoring: Theory and practice. Retrieved 29 February from https://faculty.londondeanery.ac.uk/e-learning/feedback/files/Mentoring_Theory_and_Practice.pdf

Palmer, C. (2019). How to mentor ethically. Retrieved 29 February 2020, from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/04/mentor-ethically

Popova, M. (2016). Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: The Story Behind Newton’s Famous Metaphor for How Knowledge Progresses. Retrieved from: https://www.brainpickings.org/2016/02/16/newton-standing-on-the-shoulders-of-giants/

Rose, C. (2018). Mutually Beneficial Mentorship: The Future of Talent Development. Retrieved from: https://ceciliarose.com/leadership/mutually-beneficial-mentorship/

Runyon, M. (2020). 8 Invaluable Benefits of Mentoring. Retrieved 29 February 2020, from https://www.business2community.com/leadership/8-invaluable-benefits-of-mentoring-02274024

Zachary, L. (2002). The role of the teacher as a mentor. Retrieved 29 February 2020, from http://norssiope.fi/norssiope/mentoring/aineistot/pdf_materials/zachary_role_teacher_mentor.pdf