Paying it Forward: The Effect of Mentoring on Protégé OCB Lillian Turner de Tormes EbyMarcus M. Butts University of GeorgiaUniversity of Texas-Arlington

Overview  Mentoring can be an important developmental experience (Allen et al., 2004; Eby et al., 2008)  Also associated with learning & performance (e.g., Sanchez et al., 2006; Lankau & Scandura, 2002)  Protégés can also have negative experiences with mentors (Eby et al., 2000; Scandura, 1998)  Related to a wide range of negative attitudinal & strain outcomes (Eby & Allen, 2002; Eby et al., 2004)  Some initial evidence linking negative experiences to less learning (Eby et al., 2004)  Limited research examining the relationship between mentoring & OCB

Why Examine Mentoring & OCB?  Mentoring has been conceptualized as a form of OCB (McManus & Russell, 1997)  Mentors act as role models for protégés (Kram, 1985)  Leader OCB is positively related to follower OCB (Yaffe & Kark, 2011)  Receipt of mentoring support is positively related to protégé OCB (Donaldson et al., 2000; Jandeska & Kraimer, 2005)  But, negative mentoring may inhibit protégé OCB  Emotional strain is negatively to OCB (Chang et al., 2007)  Abusive supervision negatively related to OCB (Ayree et al., 2007; Tepper, 2000; Zellars et al., 2002)

Mentoring & OCB  Prior research suggests there may be a connection  Causal direction for positive mentoring  Protégés that receive more mentoring engage in more OCB (social exchange theory; social learning theory)  Competing prediction: protégés that engage in OCB receive more mentoring (rising star hypothesis; demonstrates motivation; ideal employee prototype)  Causal direction for negative mentoring  Negative mentoring creates psychological reactance, which leads protégés to withhold effort (Brehm & Brehm, 1981)

The Current Study  Disentangle the relationship between mentoring & OCB  Examine both positive and negative mentoring experiences in relation to OCB Expect effects only for OCB-I due to relational focus  Cross-lagged panel design Two full waves of data collection Matched mentor-protégé data

Method  Employees working in health services occupation  190 in-tact mentor-protégé dyads  Formal (assigned) mentoring relationships  Surveyed at 2 points in time (1 yr interval)  Established multi-item scales  Reliability >.82 both years  Positive & negative mentoring reported by protégé Overall measures  Protégé OCB rated by mentor OCB-I & OCB-O

Data Analysis & Results  Measurement invariance across time (full support)  Four separate SEM models (all CFIs >.90, RMSEA <.08, SRMR <.07)  Four different parameter estimates per model Stability of latent variables over time all significant, r =.58 to.73 Correlation between variables at time 1 all significant, r = -.17 to.22 Correlation between variables at time 2 all significant, r = -.32 to.43 Two cross-lagged effects (both directions; OCB-I & OCB-O)

Cross-Lagged Results EffectPos. Mentor. & OCB-I (Model 1) Pos. Mentor. & OCB-O (Model 2) Neg. Mentor. & OCB-I (Model 3) Neg. Mentor. & OCB-O (Model 4) Mentoring Pos.  OCB-I.18** Pos.  OCB-O-.03 Neg.  OCB-I-.25** Neg.  OCB-O-.03 OCBs OCB-I  Pos..04 OCB-O  Pos.-.08 OCB-I  Neg.-.03 OCB-O  Neg.-.03 Standardized values reported, ** p <.01

Discussion  Support for the prediction that mentoring leads to OCB, but only behaviors aimed at individuals  Relational aspects of both mentoring & OCB-I  Firm conclusion about causal direction  No support for the alternative explanation that protégés who engage in OCB get “rewarded” with more mentoring

Implications  Mentoring theory  Protégé may learn to model helping behavior from mentors  Negative relational experiences thwarts helping behaviors  What are mediating mechanisms?  Leadership theory  Sheds light on research examining LMX & OCB as well as abusive supervision & OCB  OCB theory  Extends research on predictors of OCB  Lends support for the importance of differentiating OCB-I & OCB-O

Acknowledgements  This study was supported by Award Number R01DA from the National Institute on Drug Abuse