When you’re being your true self, you’re not only honest with other people, you’re also honest with yourself. Mentorships can be emotionally taxing, forcing mentees to confront challenging aspects of their personality, beliefs, and general worldview. Engaging with these without denying or distorting the experience or its ramifications is the only way to make genuine gains.
For example, mentees sometimes refuse to acknowledge their strengths for fear that if they flex them, they might fail. Conversely, they may be unwilling to recognize that they aren’t as skilled in a particular area as they think. In both cases, an authentic accounting of their skillset is far more practical. If they’re honest about what they’re good at and where they need work, they’ll be better prepared to tackle current challenges while seeking future improvement.
In the end, a mentorship based on authentic self-expression drives better results. And if the relationship isn’t working, authenticity allows an honest examination of the reasons why. If it’s salvageable, genuine conversations about each party’s concerns can help right the ship. Otherwise, one or both might decide to end the relationship, freeing up space for something more appropriate. Either way, authenticity helps move you forward powerfully.