n. the provision of instruction, encouragement, and other support to an individual (e.g., student, youth, colleague) to aid his or her overall growth and development or pursuit of greater learning skills, a career, or other educational or work-related goals. Numerous mentoring programs exist within occupational, educational, and other settings; they use frequent communication and contact between mentors and their respective protégés as well as a variety of techniques and procedures to develop productive relationships.