Mentee and mentor learn in different ways in a mentoring program.
Content of the Study
The study examines how mentor and mentee learn from each other and how this process changes over time. Jones looks at a small group of mentors and their mentees in great detail and interviews them several times about their joint work.
Learning progress is influenced by several factors on both sides:
- Exchange of different experiences / perspectives / explanations / stories
- Information from a higher hierarchical level
- Exchange on company policy
- Personal reflection
- Support / Feedback Offer
- Application of the mentor’s questioning and listening skills
- Differences and similarities between mentor and mentee
- Observation and Role Modeling (Mentees Only)
The mentees in particular are not aware of many of these factors before the start of the program.
The importance of the individual factors changes in the course of the relationship. While the exchange is consistently classified as an important factor for both sides, the importance of personal reflection and support for the mentees only increases over time. The exchange of information about company policy and information from a higher hierarchical level has a rather small influence on learning progress.
The significance of similarities and differences is assessed very differently. It is becoming apparent that similarities are helpful at the beginning of a mentor-mentee relationship, while differences can lead to greater learning progress in later phases.
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Practical Advice
- Mentors and mentees both benefit from a mentoring program through similar factors.
- A mentor-mentee relationship takes time to develop.
- Both differences and similarities can be helpful for learning progress in the relationship. A middle ground should be found here and mentors in particular should be sensitized.
- Mentors and mentees should be specifically prepared for the collaboration. In doing so, they should be informed about the various factors that influence learning progress and that these change over time.
Quick Facts:
Source: Jones, J. (2013). Factors influencing mentees’ and mentors’ learning throughout formal mentoring relationships. Human Resource Development International, 16(4), pp. 390-408.
Method: Case studies with interviews
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