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Mentoring at Work

Workshop of the Academic and Professional Women of UCIOctober 23, 2013

Denis TrapidoThe Paul Merage School of Business

What it is and what to look for in it

What is mentoring?

Mentoring is a one-on-one developmental relation, usually between a more experienced and a less experienced person

Wang Chong (27-100)

Bassui Tokushō (1327-1387)

Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406)

Why Get a Mentor?

The goal of mentoring is

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

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NOT getting promotion

NOT friendship

Why Get a Mentor?

WAYS TO DEVELOP PROFESSIONALLY

Get education Get supplemental training Get work experience Get mentored

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FUNCTIONS OF MENTORING FOR PROTÉGÉS

1. Career development2. Psychosocial support3. Role modeling

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Source: Kram (1985) Mentoring at Work

Why Get a Mentor?

What to look for in a mentor

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Prefer No reason to prefer

Good professionals Famous or charismatic people

Someone sharing your interests

An enjoyable relation (although it will not hurt)

Someone with a reputation of a good mentor

Same-gender mentors

Someone at the peak of the career

Someone near the end of the career

Benefits of mentoring for mentors

1. Satisfaction of giving/helping (Levinson et al. 1978)

2. Professional support after their own energies or productivity have plateaued (Levinson et al. 1978)

3. Loyal followers (Kram 1985)

4. Information (Mullen1994)

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Features of successful mentoring relations

A balanced mix of the three functions: career development, psychosocial support, and role modeling

The protégé and the mentor meet regularly (not necessarily often)

The protégé and the mentor have a meaningful connection based on common interests. Small talk does not help much.

What I Learned from My Mentoring Relations• How much you benefit from the mentoring

relation does not depend on how much you like your mentor

• If someone wants to help you develop, this is your mentor. Use this chance.

• Your success and your staying in touch are your mentor’s best rewards