When I first started mentoring younger designers, I thought the role was about giving answers. Share the tools, show the shortcuts, pass down the knowledge-that’s what I assumed they needed. But I quickly noticed something. The more answers I gave, the less ownership they took. Their work improved in the short term, but their confidence didn’t grow. It felt like I was doing the heavy lifting for them.

One day, during a review, I stopped myself mid-sentence and asked a question instead: “Why did you choose this flow over the other?” The room went quiet. They thought, reflected, and eventually explained. That moment shifted everything. Instead of just receiving solutions, they were building their own reasoning. I realized then that good mentoring isn’t about handing over fixes-it’s about guiding someone to discover their own path.

Since then, I’ve changed my approach. I ask questions that open up thinking, I guide without immediately giving away the answer, and I help others build confidence by reflecting on their own decisions. These shifts may seem small, but they turn mentoring into a process of discovery rather than instruction.

Now, when I mentor, I focus less on talking and more on listening. I ask questions that spark curiosity and let designers see the gaps themselves. It takes patience, but the growth is deeper and longer-lasting. If you ever find yourself mentoring, try shifting from answers to questions. You’ll see how much more powerful it is to help someone build their own way of thinking rather than just borrow yours.