Daily Highlights for BcB 09/03/2008

• From the T+D Blog: "Reverse Mentoring"

  The article above discusses is an under-used resource pool for distributing knowledge and changing corporate culture. That is, including younger members of the organization to share with more senior members of the organization what they know about current trends as well as their perspective of the benefit of those trends. Not only does this approach help with knowledge sharing, but can also benefit newer members with venues for improving communication and presentation skills. Highlights below:

  tags: businesscasual, coaching, mentoring, astd

  • In today’s workplace wiser does not necessarily mean older.
  • In today’s workplace wiser does not necessarily mean older.
  • A generation ago a senior manager couldn’t possibly imagine sitting for a lecture about any topic by a junior employee. But with reverse mentoring, that is happening with increasing frequency. Junior employees are schooling their supervisors about cultural traits, new market segments and the trendiest web pages.
  • reverse mentoring should not be interpreted as an opportunity to tutor a boss believed to be out of touch.
  • Junior employees should be aware that many changes in the workplace occurred after the baby boomers entered it, notably the wider use of technology.
  • Besides the transfer of knowledge, the practice recognizes the expertise that younger employees bring to the workplace, a crucial compliment not often paid to newer employees.
  • Procter & Gamble was one of the pioneers of reverse mentoring. Facing increasing turnover among its female employees and a resulting lack of female candidates for leadership positions, the company’s male executives were paired with younger female employees to capture information about the next generation of women as consumers and leaders.
  • When Jack Welch was CEO of General Electric, he instructed top managers to meet with younger employees to learn more about the Internet.