Burden or blessing? Expected costs and benefits of being a mentor

TLDR

The study examined how anticipated costs and benefits of mentoring relate to mentoring experience and intentions to mentor among 275 executives. Data were collected from 275 executives to assess the relationship between anticipated costs and benefits of mentoring, mentoring experience, and intentions to mentor. Those lacking mentoring experience expected higher costs and lower benefits, and the link between anticipated costs/benefits and mentoring intentions varied by experience, indicating mentoring may be an intergenerational process. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Abstract

We investigated the relationship between anticipated costs and benefits of being a mentor, mentoring experience, and intentions to mentor among a sample of 275 executives. Individuals lacking mentoring experience anticipated greater costs and fewer benefits than experienced individuals. Anticipated costs and benefits were related to intentions to mentor, and this relationship varied by mentoring experience. The results suggest that mentoring may be an intergenerational process. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.