Transformational leadership, learning goal orientation, and expectations for career success in mentor-protégé relationships: A multiple levels of analysis perspective

Prior research has assumed that traditional mentor-protégé relationships based on mutual learning and development orientations operate at the dyadic level of analysis. This study examines this assumption by providing a multiple levels of analysis (individual and dyad) test of the relationships among learning goal orientation, transformational leadership, and expectations of career success (career achievement, development, and balance) reported by 217 mentors and their protégés from 11 different industries. Results of within and between analysis (WABA) indicated that learning goal orientation/transformational leadership and transformational leadership/expected career balance relationships were based on differences between dyads. Learning goal orientation/expected career success and transformational leadership/expected career achievement and development relationships were based on differences between individuals. Implications for research and practice on mentoring relationships are discussed.