A good mentor may be a good line manager in a business setting and vice versa, but there are some key differences: mentors are more skill-oriented, while line managers are more goal-oriented. People who are both good line managers and mentors are especially valuable for an entry-level employee, but balancing the roles can be difficult, so it may be best to keep them separate. To most benefit from the line manager-direct report relationship, a medical writer should have clear career development goals and help manage their line manager’s expectations. To benefit from the mentormentee relationship, a medical writer should communicate effectively about their know - ledge gaps and concerns.