What is the role of a mentor? The knowledge, advice, and
resources a mentor shares depend on the format and goals of a
specific mentoring relationship. A mentor may share with a
mentee (or protege) information about his or her own career
path, as well as provide guidance, motivation, emotional
support, and role modeling. A mentor may help with exploring
careers, setting goals, developing contacts, and identifying
resources. The mentor role may change as the needs of the mentee
change. Some mentoring relationships are part of structured
programs that have specific expectations and guidelines: others
are more informal. The concept of mentoring is simple, but
successful implementation can be challenging. A document on
disability issues posted by the American Psychological
Association lists characteristics of effective mentoring to
include "the ability and willingness to - value the mentee as a
person; - develop mutual trust and respect; - maintain
confidentiality; - listen both to what is being said and how it
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