How to Build Trust in a Mentoring Relationship

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Mentoring relationships are easily one of the most valuable methods of helping an individual progress and develop, both personally and professionally. From gaining new insights to enhancing skills, mentoring has some incredible benefits to help individuals boost their development. When it comes to mentoring, it’s fair to say that one of the most important factors that lead to a thriving relationship is trust. It’s the foundation that holds the relationship together, without it, the relationship will likely be unsuccessful and won’t result in the outcome wanted by both the mentor and mentee.

By trying to build trust in a mentoring relationship, participants will see benefits such as:

• Enhanced communication
• Better engagement
• Longer-lasting relationships
• A more successful relationship
• Mutual respect

These benefits, most people can’t afford to miss out on, which is why in this article, we will explore 5 strategies you can use to build trust in a mentoring relationship.

5 Ways to Build Trust in a Mentoring Relationship

1. Establish Clear Expectations

One of the first and most important steps, you need to take if you want to build trust in your mentoring relationship, is to establish clear and realistic expectations. At the beginning of every mentoring relationship, we always highly recommend establishing the purpose of the mentorship. When you enter a mentoring relationship for the first time, both parties must discuss what they want to achieve, the roles of each participant, responsibilities and time commitments. By taking this first initial step, you can provide clarity and set the foundation for trust to be built. It helps avoid misunderstandings, conflicts and most importantly prevents disappointment.

2. Show Genuine Interest and Authenticity

Mentoring relationships are personal relationships that need nurturing if you want them to thrive. One of the best ways to do this is by showing genuine interest in the relationship, with both parties showing respect for each other. From actively listening to each other's thoughts to acknowledging the learning styles best suited to the relationship, there are several ways participants can demonstrate they care about the relationship and the development of each other. Being authentic is also a fundamental part of building trust, we recommend that mentors share their experiences and stay authentic to help build a connection. Mentors should share their successes, failures and admit when they don’t have all the answers.

3. Encourage Feedback and Reflection

Building trust isn’t something that happens overnight, it’s a continuous process that requires ongoing attention from all participants in the mentoring relationship. Feedback is essential in all relationships and especially in mentoring relationships where growth and development are often the key goals participants are working towards. By encouraging feedback, you’re able to effectively uncover what’s working and what isn’t, with participants being able to adjust their approaches or address any concerns they may have. By seeking out opinions and suggestions, and actively working on them, it helps showcase your commitment to the mentoring relationship and your willingness to make improvements.

4. Celebrate Achievements

We all like to feel recognised and celebrated for the work we do, it’s human nature. Recognising and celebrating milestones of participants in the relationship, not only creates a more supportive environment but actually helps reinforce the mentoring bond, ultimately building trust. If you’re acting as a mentor in the mentoring relationship, you need to acknowledge the progress of the mentee, no matter how big or small. Celebrating achievements shows that a mentor is invested in helping their mentee's growth and development, making them more motivated to continue reaching their goals. It’s also important that the mentee also shows gratitude for their mentor.

5. Create a Safe Environment

A mentoring relationship can make people feel vulnerable, especially the mentee. It’s essential that in a mentoring relationship, there is a safe environment where the mentor and mentee can come together to express themselves, without fear or judgment. Many mentees come to their mentor to get support and guidance on the challenges they face, whether personal or professional, empathy needs to be shown by the mentor to help the mentee openly communicate their concerns. Mentors should share personal stories and experiences, to help show the mentee they have an understanding of the challenges they face. Confidentiality also should be discussed at the beginning of every relationship, which will help foster a trusting relationship.

Final Thoughts

Trust is the leading factor of an effective mentoring relationship and by continuously building and maintaining trust in the relationship, mentors and mentees can come together to help foster a relationship that promotes growth, learning and development. Remember, building trust requires an ongoing commitment that both parties need to actively involve themselves in if they want to see success.