Real mentoring is not advice-giving. It is careful listening followed by honest questions that help someone see their situation more clearly than they could on their own.nnThe mentor who talks most is usually helping themselves more than the person they are supposed to be helping. The instinct to share what worked for you is natural but often misplaced.nnWhat the person in front of you needs is not your answers. They need help finding their own. They need someone who will take their situation seriously enough to ask the questions they have been avoiding.nnThe best mentoring relationships are built on trust that is earned over time. On the mentor being genuinely curious about the person, not just the problem.