A good link from McGill university(where iI did my master's and PhD)

One of the major differences between supervision/advising and mentoring is that the former is often task-oriented (e.g., completion of a thesis or dissertation) whereas the latter is more about caring for an individual’s long-term development (Acker, 2011).

https://www.mcgill.ca/gradsupervision/supervisors/roles-and-responsibilities/mentoring

Dear Colleagues,

Good Day,

Can I say this:

I think there is a distinction. A mentor is guiding and giving advice, but without authority behind it. A supervisor is responsible for another person. Mentoring is part of supervising but not the other way around.

please, see the two links:

http://www.ncarb.org/Experience-Through-Internships/Supervisors-and-Mentors/Working-With-A-Supervisor.aspx

http://www.ncarb.org/Experience-Through-Internships/Supervisors-and-Mentors/Working-With-A-Mentor.aspx

Mentoring involves people who have ‘been there and done that’ BEFORE you. They can speak into your life from their experience and support you as you step out on your own. They may be able to tell you the pitfalls or the highlights or the shortcuts that they have experienced along the way and give you guidance if you want to tread that same path. It is particularly appropriate for succession, for helping someone to take over your role.

Supervising is a way of monitoring how someone is going in a role and is a means of gauging when they will need input or direction. A supervisor may also be responsible for a larger project of which you are a part, and needs to give you responsibilities to carry out. It is particularly appropriate for a manager to supervise subordinates.

http://coaching.yfci.org/frequently-asked-questions-faq/coaching-and-mentoring-and-supervising%E2%80%93-what-is-the-difference/

A good link from McGill university(where iI did my master's and PhD)

One of the major differences between supervision/advising and mentoring is that the former is often task-oriented (e.g., completion of a thesis or dissertation) whereas the latter is more about caring for an individual’s long-term development (Acker, 2011).

https://www.mcgill.ca/gradsupervision/supervisors/roles-and-responsibilities/mentoring

Dear Prof. Behrouz,

Good Day,

Thank you so much for your participation and sharing the two interesting links.

I see the right distinction between monitoring & supervising is as Behrouz Ahmadi-Nedushan said in his first answer.

Dear @Hazim, I have already taken part in similar threads. I bring them here. 

Mentors, Advisors and Supervisors... - paper attached!

https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_the_role_of_an_Academic_Advisor

https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_the_difference_between_supervision_and_giving_advice

Hazim  -

I agree with you that "Mentoring is part of supervising but not the other way around." 

Posts thus far seem to concentrate on academia, but I think you mean in general, not just academia.  My feeling, from having worked in the US Government for almost 37 years, and in other experience, is that a good supervisor should also be a good mentor, and they are the most effective supervisors, but that in practice, this is actually rare.  Unfortunately, I believe that most supervisors everywhere in general, are often clueless about the important issues and how to achieve or even identify goals for their organization. This has led to many problems. A modern example could be that of Enron.  A classic example would be the failure of US industry to heed W. Edwards Deming. 

ASIDE: Consider political 'leaders' as well.  The US Congress is apparently teeming with people who think science is to be ignored.

So, yes, ideally, "Mentoring is part of supervising...." 

- Jim 

I can see that good replies have been provided with respect to the main point of the question.

Nevertheless, I would like to add a point pertaining the issue of "dependency" of the work of the mentor and supervisor from the work of the trainee. I remember from an exam about Human Resource Management that the mentor should be an independent figure within the work of the trainee, which makes him/her different from a supervisor. I investigated and I found out this point in the book "Interdisciplinary Mentoring in Science: Strategies for Success# (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/book/9780124159624).

The author, Olivia Olivero, says that "ideally the supervisor and the mentor should be two different individuals (note to the reader: she previously pointed out that supervisor's and mentor's role can collide under certain conditions). The mentor should be an independent figure, not one who has a vested interest in the permanence of the person in the office or laboratory, whose productivity directly affects the productivity of the supervisor. Rather, the mentor should be completely focused on the individuals whom they are advising, in their career, interests, skills, passion and future".

I think Ilaria brings up a good point when it comes to a formal mentoring program.  But I think that informal mentoring is very important, and I also think that a supervisor should subsume an informal mentoring role as well. 

A couple of the younger folks where I worked said that they considered me a mentor, although I was not their formal mentor, nor their supervisor - just in a "lead" role.  But I performed my leadership role in part by trying to be sure that they had the guidance and semi-independent to independent developmental opportunities useful to encourage enthusiasm and enhance their accomplishments.  I think that can be very helpful.  It is good to enjoy what you do, and a mentor should help that to happen.  

Although the terms mentor and thesis advisor (or research supervisor) are often used interchangeably, the responsibilities associated with these roles are distinct, even when they overlap.

“Supervision” - to oversee a person or group of people engaged in an activity or research and keep order or ensure that she/he/they perform it correctly.

“Mentorship” - A mentorship refers to relationship between an experienced professional and a less experienced mentee or protege. During the “mentorship” experience, it is common for a “mentee” to be matched with a "mentor" who will give them advice and help them succeed

The supervisor has authority or 'positional power' over the mentoree. The mentor may guide, suggest, coach but does not use power to direct actions.

www.calcasa.org/wp-content/uploads/.../Mentorship-vs-Supervision.ppt

http://www.bu.edu/orc/files/2010/06/Mentors_Advisors_RCR.pdf

"Robert Frost once said, "I am not a teacher, but an awakener." Is there any value in that? The "United We Serve" website claims that mentoring is "An Investment Work Making," and goes on to explain, "The connection in mentoring — pairing young people with caring adults — is a youth development strategy that can create a path to successful adulthood for our children...

Mentors are not replacements for parents, guardians, or teachers, but they can inspire by example as an important member of the team responsible for a child’s development. (As the saying goes, “It takes a village to raise a child.”) They can feel free to expand the boundaries of the adult-child relationship to include more fun experiences that encourage positive choices, promote self-esteem and improve academic achievement."

http://scimeca.com/wholechild/

A mentor is an expert who teaches you how to perform your job,what the nature, duties and responsibilities of  your are. A mentor will have an understanding of the challenges and responsibilities you will face in completing your job and will inspire you and transform you in such way that you are fit for that job.

In the mean time, a supervisor is someone who has a job which includes making sure you are performing your job duties. He is responsible to ensure all employees under their direction are completing in a competent way all the job duties and tasks they are assigned to do in a timely fashion.

In my long academic life as student & teacher, I assumed the roles of mentee/mentor & supervised/supervisor. My observation is that the job of the mentor is ethically much harder & broader  than that of the supervisor. As a supervisor, I will give a specific problem to a student & both of us will work towards solving this problem within a certain period of time. As mentor, the students will come with easy & hard problems asking my help, directions, and guidance. In some few cases, I felt that I was totally unable to offer anything & I just burst in tears (as what happened 3 weeks ago when a student asked me personally to pay the remaining part of her fees for this starting semester ; something which I cannot afford).  

I love doing what I do. I'm a born mentor. I've launched so many people's careers. I worked hard.

--- Paula Abdul

Supervisor is for specific work , may be for research and mentor is for overall development and help of the mentee.

Mentor based on varied experiences gained inspires young scholars/students about how new innovative ideas originates and are being  translated in to real  applications in our day to day use keeping in view of three essential parameters , RAP,s : Reliability, applicability and Practicability.

Supervisor guide a scholar in completion of a project.

FOR RAP,s attaching a paper. 

Article Advances in technologies for the measurement of uranium in d...

My dear friend @Mahmoud had a nice thread about mentors and mentees!

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Are_we_good_mentors_to_our_mentees

A good mentoring relationship provides new employees as well as interns with someone that will share their professional knowledge and expertise in the field. A good mentor is available to answer any questions relevant to the job. Good mentor-mentee relationships are a two way street; consequently, if you want a good relationship with your mentor, become a good mentee. This requires a genuine interest in your mentor and a willingness to do what it takes to become successful as an intern or new employee in the field.

http://franchisegrowthpartners.com/mentoring

Sixt out of ten qualities mentioned in article provided in previous answer by @Subhash, is guidance and constructive feedback.

"One of the key responsibilities of a good mentor is to provide guidance and constructive feedback to their mentee. This is where the mentee will most likely grow the most by identifying their current strengths and weaknesses and learning how to use these to make themselves successful in the field. A good mentor possess excellent communication skills and is able to adjust their communication to the personality style of the mentee. A good mentor will also provide the mentee with challenges that will foster professional development and a feeling of accomplishment in learning the field."

I find this as a crucial one for successful mentor.

Dear Colleagues,

Good Day,

Mentoring of coaches and supervision of coaches are both necessary and good for the individual and the field. The search for distinctions between the two is not a matter of preference or of choosing sides to an argument. As coaching matures, the field is best served by experienced coaches who mentor and guide novices into practice and by supervisors who support the coach in maintaining effectiveness, ethics and personal equilibrium throughout their career. The expanding use of both resources is an indication that coaching is indeed a profession.

Please, see the following articles and links for further information:

http://coachingsupervisionacademy.com/thought-leadership/dist-mentor-and-coach-sup/

http://science-professor.blogspot.com/2009/12/mentor-v-supervisor.html

 Good extension! Dear Ljubomir Jacić.

Mentor let mentee learn by providing challenges.

Very good reading : How My First Boss Taught Me How to "Work Happy".

"I was lucky that my first boss turned out to be the ultimate mentor. He not only taught me to embrace all types of media, but he also inspired me to turn my weaknesses into strengths — and to enjoy every day of work..."

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/mentor-who-shaped-me-how-my-first-boss-taught-work-happy-boorstin

A mentor INSPIRE while a Supervisor Guide a scholar in a project.

“MENTOR signifies:

• M = Motivator
• E = Empowers
• N = Nurture
• T = Teacher 
• O = Originator 
• R = Role model” 

― Lailah Gifty Akita

“We were motivated by our mentors to go an extra mile.”

 Lailah Gifty Akita

Role of Mentors

• Train to be efficient.
• Guidance and advice for one mentee may also be appropriate for another. 
• Be aware of potential pitfalls: overdependence of mentee, mentee exploitation of mentor’s influence. 
• Be sensitive to difference between developing a mentee and using a mentee.

http://www.apa.org/education/grad/mentoring-training.pdf

Supervisor can work both --- as work/research supervisor and as mentor!

Four myths about scientists that let you work too much!

"Many young scientists are highly self-motivated and work long hours to create a scientific oeuvre not only to earn money later or make an impressive career. Many young researchers are driven by the strong wish to understand the world (or at least a part of it) and make an important contribution to science and society in general.

However, the enthusiasm of young scientists is abused by supervisors who are often not even aware of doing so. Unconscious presumptions may let scientists accept poor working conditions..."

http://www.smartsciencecareer.com/work-too-much/#more-1089

Supervisor and mentor roles

• The responsibility of the supervisor to offer regular, high quality advice, support and direction to the postgraduate research (PGR) students,
• The responsibility of the mentor to take pastoral responsibility for their designated students,

http://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/faculty-offices/graduateresearchpolicies/supervisionofresearchstudents/introductiontosupervision/supervisorandmentorroles/

 MENTORING is important for Socialization and development of employees.

Dear Behrouz Ahmadi-Nedushan,

Very sorry! Deleted!

Thanks!

I think both are the same.

My PhD supervisor was also my mentor, my teacher, and my second father!

This is very typical in Russia, especially when you find a nice Soviet guy.