Learn From Millennials to Boost Your Business

learn from millennials

Reverse mentoring enables businesses to benefit from younger employees’ expertise in the digital world and more

Mentoring is changing. In and outside of the workplace, momentum is building around the concept of reverse mentoring. Said to be initially championed by former GE CEO Jack Welch in the late ’90s, it’s a trend that’s grown in popularity as a young generation of “Millennials” enters the work force.

These digital natives have a wealth of knowledge in areas such as social media and mobile, and they are in tune with the ever-growing app culture. All of these skills are invaluable for companies but often are missing from the top.

What It Is

Reverse mentoring flips the traditional mentoring model: the student becomes the teacher. The usual mentee assumes the role of mentor, working with a senior leader on a particular topic of interest.

Today, we’re seeing this type of program employed to help leaders grow their understanding and familiarity with social media, mobile apps and devices, and their digital presence. But it’s certainly not limited to technology-related areas. While the value for seasoned leaders is clear to us digital natives, it is the notion that this mentorship model goes both ways that can help organizations better understand and adopt it.

Reverse mentoring, when done correctly, is a great mechanism to engage junior members of the work force, recognize new skills and potential leaders, and provide them valuable exposure to leadership.

Reverse Mentoring in Action

There are some good examples of organizations embracing these types of mentoring programs.
• TD Bank created a “Genius Program” to help drive greater engagement around many of its social business initiatives. Many of the “geniuses” were digital natives and junior employees who helped execs and managers better understand how to use social media in a business setting.

•Next page- So do you have a contingent of Millennials in your work force?

RELATED POSTS

Addressing Emotional Career Challenges When So Much Is at Stake

Addressing Emotional Career Challenges When So Much Is at Stake

What's your response to hardship in the face of immense pressure and disruption? Editor's note: This is part two of a six part article.  In the first article of this six-part series on Emotional Intelligence development, I made a big statement, “It’s Never too Late to...

Women & Men, Career, Life & Their Choices

Women & Men, Career, Life & Their Choices

Tips and Observations, Inspired By "Makers: Women Who Make America" Watching a recent PBS broadcast "Makers: Women Who Make America" was a moving experience for me. Whew, I didn't realize how much time had gone by. Many of the stories and events described in the...

Video Gallery

Polls

Sign Up for the Latin Biz Today Newsletter

PR Newswire

Featured Authors

Innovation & Strategy

Money

Talent/HR

Legal

Marketing

Culture

Fashion

Food

Music

Sports

Work & Life

Mindfulness

Health & Fitness

Travel & Destinations

Personal Blogs

Pin It on Pinterest