A study of the difference between mentor and protege perceptions of the effectiveness of mentor management skills

The purpose of the proposed study was to determine whether mentors and proteges have similar perceptions of the management effectiveness skill level of the mentor and to determine the relationship between length of the mentoring relationship and skill level outcomes. The skill levels in three areas of management effectiveness explored were task skills, interpersonal skills, and personal skills. The convenience sample for the study included 65 matched mentor and protege dyads from various states within the United States. Human Synergistics granted permission to use the online version of the survey. Quantitative survey research included the use of the Management Effectiveness Profile System(TM) (MEPS) by R. A. Cooke, (1989) and a demographic information survey. Results indicated the presence of a significant difference between mentors' self-perceptions and proteges' perceptions of their mentors' management effectiveness in the area of task skills, interpersonal skills, and personal skills, after adjusting the task skills scores for length of time in the mentoring relationship. proteges provided higher ratings of mentors' management than mentors did with regard to interpersonal skills. Length of relationship was not a factor in outcomes. Findings implied the importance of exploring both mentor and protege perceptions, as they may differ.