Improved mentor satisfaction: emphasising protégé training for adult‐age mentoring dyads

Abstract

Mentoring and e‐mentoring programmes have traditionally focused on training mentors rather than protégés. In this research study, we examine the effects of mandated training for protégés on mentor outcomes within a large‐scale e‐mentoring programme, MentorNet. The programme paired college students (protégés) at various US colleges and universities with professionals (mentors) from a number of US‐based companies. The results suggest that a paradigm change from mentor training to protégé training for adult protégés is beneficial. In this randomised experiment, 200 protégés were assigned to a mandated e‐training (experimental) group, and another 200 protégés were assigned to a voluntary e‐training (control) group. The mentors who were paired with the protégés in the experimental group were more engaged in the programme, more satisfied with their experience, and held their protégés in higher esteem. Rather than emphasising mentor training, the findings suggest that protégé training may be more appropriate for mentoring dyads.

Keywords:

• e‐mentoring
• telementoring
• training
• adult‐age mentoring dyads
• mentor satisfaction
• protégé training
• mandatory protégé training
• randomized experimental design

Acknowledgments

Thanks to the two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on an earlier version of this paper. This research was based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grant HRD‐0001388 in 2001–2002 and by MentorNet sponsors (see listing at www.MentorNet.net/partners/sponsors.aspx).