In an age of corporate buzzwords and checkbox culture, mentorship has lost its meaning.
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That’s the driving force behind my new book, The Mentorship Edge: Creating Maximum Impact through Lateral and Hierarchical Mentoring. In a recent appearance on The Tom Matt Show, I pulled back the curtain on why I felt compelled to write the book—and why it couldn’t wait any longer.
“Mentorship has been hijacked by the corporate world, it’s become transactional—something people do to check a box on a performance review. That’s not what mentorship is.”
❌ Not Just a Career HackMentorship is often sold as a shortcut to career advancement. A tool to climb the ladder. A box to tick on a resume.
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But I argue this view is both narrow and harmful. It overlooks the human element—the emotional drive to connect, give back, and create meaning in our lives.
“Mentorship is about Personal Development. It’s about who we are, how we find purpose, and how we stay relevant.”
By reducing mentorship to a productivity tool, we strip it of the very thing that makes it powerful: the relationship.
✅ A Return to RelationshipsMy approach reframes mentorship as a deeply relational experience, not a transaction. It’s about trust, vulnerability, shared purpose, and mutual Growth.
Mentorship is built on intrinsic motivation—not Money or performance bonuses. True mentors give their time freely, because they want to. Because they care. Because they see the person in front of them and are invested in their growth.
“We are built to mentor. It’s a life stage. It’s emotional. And it’s deeply human.”
🧬 Built Into Us: The Psychology Behind ItAt the heart of this message is a concept from developmental psychology called generativity—the midlife desire to give back and contribute to the next generation. Originally introduced by Erik Erikson, generativity is a psychological need that fuels the desire to mentor without expecting anything in return.
Mentorship, in this sense, isn’t just something nice to do. It’s a key part of how we make meaning in our lives, especially as we age. It’s how we leave a Legacy.
✨ Why This Book Matters NowAs I told Tom Matt, mentorship is too important to misunderstand. We need to reframe it, reclaim it, and reignite its role in both personal and professional life.
The Mentorship Edge isn’t just a how-to guide. It’s a call to action: to stop thinking of mentorship as a one-way street, a quick fix, or a corporate requirement—and start seeing it as a lifelong relationship that benefits both people involved.
Because at its best, mentorship is not just about helping someone else move forward—it’s about remembering who we are, why we matter, and how we can make a difference.
📚 Ready to rediscover the true power of mentorship?Pick up The Mentorship Edge on Amazon or wherever you buy books. It’s available in hardcover, Kindle, and audiobook.
To learn more about my work, visit deborahheiser.com or check out the nonprofit, The Mentor Project at mentorproject.org.
The Right Side of 40 is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Originally Published on https://deborahheiserphd.substack.com/
