Today, as part of a group work presentation, mentors presented a list which illustrates how mentoring might help mentors with their future career. The list was as follows:

• It can give you better communication skills
• You can gain some leadership qualities
• You’re a more reflective person
• Learning how you can help others
• Able to identify your strengths and weaknesses
• You have some interpersonal skills
• Better time management skills
• Become more organised and prepared for any task which you may be presented with
• Think more outside the box, think of a bigger picture
• Develop a stronger verstehen (empathic understanding of human behaviour)

This list shows that peer mentoring profits not only the mentees, but also the mentors. They can gain valuable skills when mentoring others – which go beyond simply ‘helping others’.