Mentoring

Mentoring is an informal relationship that is mutually beneficial to two parties. While mentoring might include aspects of advising, coaching, and helping, it is a unique phenomenon that includes being relationship oriented and engaging over a long period of time. Mentorship strives to be more than transactional and benefits from prolonged engagement where the mentor–mentee pairing can connect on issues that relate to professional and personal life. A mentor may be a person within a given field of work or study who helps a mentee navigate the politics of a field, search for a job, network, or develop necessary skills to be successful. This entry explores the general aspects of mentoring and then provides considerations for mentoring trans communities.