Do supervisors mentor their subordinates?
Most supervisors do mentor somewhat, but research shows that the most effective mentor is not the first or second level supervisor. It is suggested that the mentor should be about two levels above the mentee. The mentee’s supervisor may be able to share some of the knowledge and skills that need to be developed, but sometimes supervisors have time constraints or are otherwise unable to provide the guidance needed. There are also drawbacks to the supervisor mentoring his or her subordinate. One is a perception of favoritism, based on the time that can be required in mentoring. Also, mentees are often reluctant to being open about their developmental needs and weaknesses. So supervisors do mentor subordinates, but it is recommended that the mentee also seek mentors outside their chain of command.
