What is mentoring?

Mentoring is fundamentally about the relationship between two individuals, where the mentor, often more experienced, imparts knowledge, skills, and insights to the mentee, who is typically less experienced. This relationship is grounded in guidance, support, and the sharing of experiences to help the mentee grow professionally and personally.

In contrast to a formal training program, mentoring is usually more personalized and can evolve organically over time, focusing on the specific needs and goals of the mentee. Additionally, while performance appraisals are assessments of an employee's work, and financial assistance in education relates to funding support, mentoring specifically aims to develop skills and confidence through direct interaction and shared experience. Thus, the essence of mentoring lies in its supportive and developmental nature, making the second option the correct choice.