Emotional Intelligence and Trust in Formal Mentoring Programs

Abstract

This study examined the roles of mentors' and proteges' emotional intelligence and proteges' trust in the mentors in formal mentoring relationships. Using reports from both mentors and proteges in 147 formal mentoring dyads, results of partial least squares analysis indicated that mentors' emotional intelligence directly and indirectly related to mentoring provided through proteges' trust in the mentors, whereas proteges' emotional intelligence was only indirectly associated with the mentoring provided through their trust in the mentors. A complementary interaction effect of mentors' and proteges' emotional intelligence on proteges' trust in the mentors was also found. Finally, mentoring provided was positively associated with proteges' willingness to mentor others in the future. Implications regarding mentor-protege matching and development for effective formal mentoring programs and future theory development are discussed.