The Gap Between Wanting and Knowing How To Show Up
Most mentors want to do a good job. Most mentees do too. But wanting to show up well and knowing how to are two very different things.
You might feel confident in your expertise, but mentoring isn't just about what you know — it's about how you transfer that knowledge to someone else in a way that actually sticks. The difference between a mentor who creates dependency and one who builds capability comes down to a few key moments and shifts in how you show up.
That's why we created Unlocking Great Mentoring — a three-part video series designed for anyone stepping into a mentoring relationship, whether for the first time or the tenth.
In just 20 minutes total, you'll learn how to navigate the moments that matter most: your first session, the sessions in between, and knowing when you've truly succeeded.
Episode 1: You're Not Here to Fix Them
The Problem: It's your first mentoring session. Your mentee has shared a challenge. You see the solution clearly. So you jump in and hand them the answer — because you want to help, because you're good at what you do, and because they're looking to you for guidance.
Then, in the next session, they have a similar problem. And in the next, another one. Before you know it, they're checking in before every decision, and you're spending more energy solving their problems than developing their thinking.
What You'll Learn
- Why the biggest risk in a first mentoring session isn't saying the wrong thing — it's saying the right thing too early
- How to recognize when you're solving instead of developing
- The questions that build thinkers, not dependency
- What to do in the moment when you feel the urge to jump in and fix things
Watch Episode 1
Episode 2: How to Hand the Wheel Back
The Problem: Most mentors don't realize they've taken over until they're already steering. You ask a question, but you rephrase it three times because they're not understanding. You suggest an approach, then another, then start walking through it step by step. Your mentee nods along, but you're doing the thinking.
This happens gradually. It feels natural. But it's the opposite of what mentoring is supposed to be.
What You'll Learn
- How to notice when you're taking over (the subtle signs most mentors miss)
- 3 Practical ways to put your mentee back in the driver's seat
Watch Episode 2
Episode 3: Knowing When You've Done Your Job
The Problem: How do you know if mentoring is actually working? If your mentee keeps coming back with problems, are they growing? If they seem confident and independent, does that mean they don't need you anymore?
Success in mentoring doesn't look like fixing problems. It looks like your mentee needing you less.
What You'll Learn
- What real progress actually looks like in a mentoring relationship
- How to recognize the shift from dependency to capability
- The importance of naming the growth you've seen (and why it matters)
- 3 ways to set your mentee up for success, without you
Watch Episode 3
No Theory. No Fluff. Just What You Need.
These aren't abstract principles or lengthy case studies. Each episode gives you concrete moments to recognize and practical strategies to deploy in your next mentoring session.
Whether you're managing your mentor mindset in the first conversation, course-correcting mid-relationship, or bringing a mentoring relationship to a strong close, you'll have frameworks that actually work.
Ready to level up your mentoring? Press play on Episode 1 above and come back to this page anytime you need a refresh.