Sometimes a Difficult Process

By encouraging the examination of alternatives, mentors require that mentees question their ideas, beliefs, and decisions. Although this process is both desirable and necessary, for mentees this specific type of interpersonal engagement is sometimes more difficult than the straightforward review of opinions and attitudes might suggest to the seasoned practitioner.

For example, a genuine exploration of options can create anxiety simply because the attempt itself can be stressful. Mentees are essentially being asked to second-guess their own personal views, so they often need to move outside of their individual comfort zones in order to revisit a variety of fixed positions.