Case Study: When a Mentor’s Lack of Courage Blocks a Mentee’s Growth

Ravi, a mid-career professional in a corporate leadership role, joined a cross-sector mentoring program to “give back.” His mentee, Mira, worked in a small nonprofit where she often struggled with confidence and clarity as a first-time team lead. In their early sessions, she spoke repeatedly about a teammate who missed deadlines and resisted feedback, but Ravi hesitated to ask deeper questions. He feared sounding intrusive, judgmental, or out of touch. This hesitation reflected the danger of being too mild, leading to confusion or a lack of respect through excessive softness. Ravi defaulted to polite encouragement instead of the real conversation she needed.

What Courage Really Means for a Mentor
During a training session for mentors at School for the Heart, Ravi heard a powerful discussion on courage: that real courage is not about forcefulness, but about being willing to speak honestly, reveal one’s own mistakes, and take responsibility for the impact of our silence. He realised he had been hiding behind “not wanting to overstep,” when in truth he was avoiding discomfort — his and Mira’s. He remembered a point from the training webinar that mentors must help others connect knowledge to application by modelling clarity, not repeating vague advice that leaves a “piece of the bridge missing”. Ravi saw that by withholding honest reflection, he was weakening her growth, not protecting her


At their next meeting, Ravi chose courage over comfort. He began by admitting, “I’ve avoided asking you something important, and that may have held you back.” Then he asked the question he had been afraid to ask: “What is this situation actually costing you — and what would change if you addressed it directly?” Instead of offering solutions, he guided her with curious, compassionate questions. Mira opened up, recognising her own avoidance and fear. Together, they mapped out a safe, structured way for her to speak to her colleague. Weeks later, she shared that the conversation improved accountability and strengthened the relationship. Ravi realised that courage in mentoring isn’t about authority — it’s about honesty, accountability, and believing in someone enough to help them step into their own strength.

Courage (साहस)

shows up when mentors:

  • Courage means initiating the conversations most people avoid. It’s choosing clarity over comfort because the mentee’s growth matters more than your temporary unease. What this signals is, “Hard topics are welcome here — you don’t have to carry them alone.”

  • Courage prevents a fear-driven pattern where mentors pretend to “know everything. This invites honest, open conversations. Mentors who do this signal - “It’s okay not to have it all figured out — what matters is how we learn from it.”

  • Mentors consider timing, tone, and emotional readiness before speaking. They balance kindness with candor — no harshness, no sugarcoating. A mentor who does this signals, “Your growth matters enough for me to be honest with you.”

  • Courage means acting early and appropriately when you sense distress, confusion, or risk. As a mentor you could say, “I’m noticing you sound overwhelmed — can we pause and check in on how you’re feeling?”