As a mentor you need to build a position of positive influence in your relationship with your mentee. Where both engagement and trust are lacking, i.e. the mentee doesn’t trust the mentor or is not motivated to learn from them, the consequences of that impact on both the quality of the sessions and the growth and learning of the mentee. The need for personal disclosure is another feature that distinguishes mentoring from other types of relationship. A good mentor will often choose openness rather than protecting a professional façade.

The purpose of any mentoring conversation is to benefit the mentee in some way and the link or relevance back to them must be maintained. When an appropriate balance of disclosure is maintained, it can serve to reassure the mentee and also inspire confidence.