The mentor-protege relationship: art. no. 82

Mentoring is a time-honored method for learning in graduate education and professional development. Mentoring is a symbiotic relationship between a mentor-protege pair who assist each other to meet mutual career objectives. Close mentor-protege relationships often play a critical role in the lives of successful individuals in academia and business. Effective mentoring is an intentional activity requiring conscious effort. Mentors teach, sponsor, encourage, counsel, and befriend their proteges. Four distinct periods exist in most mentor-protege relationships over time. Mentors are typically 15 to 20 years older than the protege. Females report having more difficulty forming mentoring relationships and the most suitable mentor candidates are usually males. The framework for effective mentoring is grounded in social and invitational learning theories. The successful protege eventually develops the self-regulating behaviors that enable autonomous performance and mastery. Formal mentoring programs are commonplace but data supporting this practice are scant.