Mentoring is a two way street. Both ways involve communication and the time and effort to make that channel productive.
ADVANTAGE: Input you can use if the match is right and both parties are on the same communication wave length.
DISADVANTAGE: The time and effort to foster a two way dialogue
Good listening and observation are key. Relate to the mentor and how he or she does their job by not only asking questions, but also commenting on the outcomes and the quality of the mentor’s work.
If you have a thought on performing the job in a different way show some initiative by developing the approach and asking the mentor to comment.
Most of us who have mentored for years appreciate the fact that the mentored individual will do the job reflecting his or her own attributes and outlook and we are only there as guides. Make the journey interesting for us.