تعهد مربی در روابط نظارت رسمی

This research examined the role of mentor commitment relative to protégé perceptions of relationship quality within formal mentoring programs. Based on a matched sample of 91 mentors and protégés, the results indicated that mentor commitment related positively to protégé reports of relationship quality. This relationship was stronger for male protégés than for female protégés. The results indicated that protégés reported higher quality relationships when mentors underestimated their commitment to the relationship relative to the protégés estimate of mentor commitment. Suggestions for future research are offered.

The popularity of formal mentoring programs within U.S. organizations continues to grow. Major companies such as Bank of America, Marriott International, and Charles Schwab have formal mentoring programs in place to help them attract, retain, and develop high performers (Eddy, Tannenbaum, Alliger, D’Abate, & Givens, 2003). One critical ingredient necessary for the success of these programs is the participation of mentors who are committed to their protégés and to the mentoring relationship (Ragins, Cotton, & Miller, 2000). Surprisingly, while mentor commitment has been discussed as an important variable in mentoring research (e.g., Scandura and Williams, 2001 and Zachary, 2000), it has rarely been empirically examined.