Mentoring and expressive network resources: their relationship with career success and emotional exhaustion among Hellenes employees involved in emotion work

Author: Bozionelos, Nikos

Source: International Journal of Human Resource Management, Volume 17, Number 2, Number 2/February 2006 , pp. 362-378(17)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

Although mentoring has been identified as an important career resource for protégés in the Anglo-Saxon cultural cluster, pertinent research in other cultures is still scarce. The relationship of mentoring and expressive network resources with protégés' career success and emotional exhaustion was investigated in a sample of 104 Hellenes (Greek) bank employees performing frontline service jobs. The number of mentors that respondents reported they have had was related to their extrinsic career success. However, currently having a mentor was not related to intrinsic career success and was marginally related to emotional exhaustion. In contrast, the amount of expressive network resources was strongly related to both intrinsic career success and emotional exhaustion. The results are discussed with respect to extant research, the national cultural context of the study and the cross-cultural transferability of human resource systems. The general tentative conclusion is that relationships with mentors and expressive network resources appear to be important resources for employees across cultures, but the relative potency of their benefits is influenced by the national cultural characteristics.

Keywords: Mentoring; network resources; career success; emotion work; emotional exhaustion; Hellas

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09585190500405009

Affiliations: 1: Durham Business School, University of Durham, Mill Hill Lane, Durham DH1 3LB, UK, Tel: +44 191 3345512, Fax: +44 191 3345201

Publication date: 2006-02-01

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