Convergence of Leader-Member Exchange and Mentoring: An Investigation of Social Influence Patterns

The conceptual convergence of in-group leader-member exchange relations & mentoring was explored by examining how participants described the 2 types of relationships with supervisors. In- & out-group leader-member relationships were compared on measures designed to identify mentoring relationships completed by 72 employed people. Results indicated that in-group members described their relationship with their supervisor as a mentoring one, whereas out-group members did not. A similar pattern of social influence was also reported by those who were identified as in-group members & as proteges. In-group members & mentored individuals reported greater use of expert & referent power than out-group members & nonmentored people, who reported a greater use of coercive power than did in-group members & proteges. 4 Tables, 38 References. Adapted from the source document.