What can I share from a mentoring session?
Mentees tell mentors things they have not told their family. That only works if the boundary is clear from the first minute.
- Read time
- 3 minutes
- Module
- Mentoring well, long term
- Session length
- 30 minutes
What good looks like.
Default to confidential. Do not repeat a mentee's situation to colleagues, and do not post about a session in a way that could identify them.
The two exceptions are safeguarding concerns and anything that suggests immediate risk of harm. Say this at the start if the subject looks likely to come up.
Handle documents carefully. Share through the platform, do not forward a CV to anyone without explicit permission, and delete local copies when you are done.
A sequence you can follow.
- 01
Set expectations early
One sentence at the start about what stays private.
- 02
Keep files on the platform
No personal email attachments.
- 03
Anonymise anything you reuse
If you talk about mentoring publicly, remove every identifying detail.
- 04
Delete when finished
No lingering copies on your desktop.
What to avoid.
Sharing a mentee's story as an anecdote at work
Forwarding a CV to a recruiter without asking
Promising absolute confidentiality you cannot honour
Extra tips
Small things that make the half hour better.
Do not record without asking
And do not ask unless there is a real reason to.
Keep notes minimal
Enough to follow up, nothing you would not want them to read.
Anonymise any story you retell
Remove employer, city and role before you use an example.
Delete what you no longer need
Old notes are a risk with no benefit.
Take this guide with you.
Download a printable version of this guide: the short answer, the steps, the extra tips, the mistakes to avoid and the questions mentors ask, to read before your next session.
The things people ask first.
Can I write about mentoring on LinkedIn?
Yes, about the experience in general. Never with details that identify a mentee.
Next: Checking your own bias.
Your route in was one route. Do not sell it as the only one.