Feedback and advice flowing from mentor to mentee are central features of a mentoring relationship. Both are necessary for correction, encouragement, and improvement.  It's the mentor's responsibility to ensure that their mentee hears what they're saying and receives it productively.

When feedback is positive, it's easy to share. But when it's critical of the mentee, it can be painful and disempowering if not handled tactfully. The same goes for advice. Delivering it as an admonishment instead of a recommendation can be counterproductive.

To offer corrections tactfully, mentors need to examine their motives and couch their feedback so that it doesn't trigger their mentee's defenses. Doing this requires both self-knowledge and an understanding of what makes the mentee tick.