The Diaries of a Mentor – When Silence Speaks

People often think mentorship is all about teaching, guiding, and giving instructions. But sometimes, the real teaching happens in silence.

Right now, I’m mentoring two young interns. What they don’t know is… I’m observing everything.
Observing whether their words align with their actions. How invested they are in the project we are working on. Paying attention, observing how they move when no one is prompting them. How they show up or don’t.

This week, I intentionally stayed quiet. I wanted to see what they’d do with the space. Would they initiate? Would they communicate? Would they stretch themselves?

And honestly… I was a little disappointed. One of them barely did anything. The other, I admire for upskilling. But here’s the thing. You say you’re desperate for income, but then you learn a brand-new skill in a world that’s already highly competitive… without first stopping to ask:
What do I can I offer based on what skills I already have, that people can use?
What’s the fastest route to earning based on what I know, who I know, and what I’ve already done?

That’s where strategy comes in.

When you are desperate, when you start chasing every shiny thing, you become like a magpie. “Oh! I’ll try this. No, maybe that. Wait, this looks cool.” That scattered energy? It leaks into everything you do.

And so I ask, as a mentor, not just to them, but to anyone listening:

What would it look like if you paused… assessed your situation honestly… and started from there?

Because here’s the truth:
In the real world, actions speak louder than words.
And silence? Sometimes that speaks the loudest of all.