Maintaining objectivity in the mentoring relationship
In a good mentoring relationship, mentor and trainees can become very close. When they interact in a professional setting, the mentor needs to be careful not to let the mentoring relationship affect the mentor’s objectivity and impartiality.
Conserving the mentor's time and resources
A good mentor is generous of his or her time. Trainees, however, need to understand that the mentor is likely to have many other responsibilities. They should not be allowed to take advantage of the mentor's willingness to be available.
Exploitation of trainees
As the mentoring relationship progresses, trainees becomes more and more dependent on the mentor's guidance, support, and practical assistance. Unfortunately, sometimes the mentor takes undue advantage of trainees. Exploitation can take different forms, from using the trainees merely as data producers to using them for menial work (grading papers, entering data, etc.) to sexual harassment, to lifting trainees' research and/or writing and incorporating them into the mentor's own writing or conference presentations without permission, or appropriate attribution.
