Mentoring Preferences: The Role of Agency and Communion in Deep-Level Similarity and Perceived Workplace Norms

Abstract

Mentorship plays a significant role in shaping an individual's career in the workplace. Agency and communion are key dimensions that reflect personal values and workplace norms, both of which strongly influence the mentoring experience. Across four studies, we examined the type of mentoring that potential mentees want depending on their own values, workplace norms, and the interplay between the two. In each study, we investigated if potential mentees prefer mentors similar to themselves on agency and communion and who fit agentic and communal workplace norms. We analyzed perceived workplace norms in Study 1, manipulated prescriptive workplace norms in Study 2, and descriptive workplace norms in Study 3. Finally, Study 4 experimentally investigated if the similarity with the mentor and the perceived workplace requirements affects the preference for a potential mentor. Across all studies, we investigated if women preferred more communion (i.e., communal values in the mentor, psychosocial support) in their ideal mentors than men. The results indicated that people prefer mentors who share the same values and that women prefer more communion than men. Workplace norms did not influence mentoring preferences and did not interact with individuals' values.