The impact of race on managers' experiences of developmental relationships (mentoring and sponsorship): An intra‐organizational study

Abstract

Abstract This study examines the influence of race on protégés' experiences of forming developmental relationships. Data were collected from 88 black and 107 white managers, who, collectively, accounted for 487 developmental relationships. The results indicate that white protégés have almost no developmental relationships with persons of another race. Black protégés, however, form 63 per cent of their developmental relationships with whites. Blacks are more likely than whites to form relationships outside the formal lines of authority and outside their departments. Furthermore, same‐race relationships were found to provide significantly more psychosocial support than cross‐race relationships.