Mentoring. A quality assurance tool for dentists. Part 3: Building a successful mentoring relationship.

The contribution that the mentor can make to the mentoring relationship is undoubtedly crucial. It revolves around mentor qualities, including honesty, congruence, self-sufficiency, and patience. Mentor attitudes include unconditional positive regard for the mentee and mentee focus. Mentor behaviours include establishing rapport, demonstrating warmth and empathy, and giving constructive feedback. There are also unhelpful mentor positions, which are to be avoided. However, there are enormous rewards for the mentor. Mentees also make a significant contribution to the successful relationship by being open to the process and ready to engage with their mentor in order to discover their own goals and develop their own resources and career. This will help them to serve their patients better in the years to come and thereby to achieve a greater sense of purpose, satisfaction and reward in their professional lives.