A Field Study of Factors Related to Supervisors' Willingness to Mentor Others

Factors thought to be related to intention to mentor and perceived barriers to mentoring (i.e., willingness to mentor) were examined among 607 state government supervisors. Previous experience as a mentor, previous experience as a protégé, education level, and quality of relationship with supervisor were related to willingness to mentor others. Additionally, age, locus of control, and upward striving were related to supervisors’ intention to mentor others, but not to their perceptions of barriers to mentoring others. Job-induced tension was related to perceived barriers to mentoring, but not to intention to mentor others. Implications of the findings and suggestions for future research are presented.