The business world is constantly changing around the innovations of technology, and those people running the business world need to adapt to the changes. The Wall Street Journal reveals that the traditional method of the older and wiser teaching the youngsters of the business is beginning to not be as beneficial. With technology constantly evolving in the workplace people in senior management positions, who tend to be older, are looking up to their younger employees to show them the way when it comes to everything that the internet and capable gadgets have to offer. They call this reverse mentoring. Reverse mentoring not only allows the higher manager to learn new things from the lower employee, it also gives the manager the opportunity to slip in words of wisdom to the employee, giving both people a welcomed advantage in the business world.
Sometimes it can be easily forgotten that upper management has struggles, and it’s nice to see a leader come out and say they would like some help. It’s not just subordinates that need to feel empowerment from a job, everyone should feel empowered and like their work is meaningful, but that can be a challenge when they don’t understand the technology surrounding them. This reverse mentoring helps form relationships built on trust and communication between upper management and the employee, allowing the new-bee to feel more comfortable and open in a “stiff” environment. Not only is this mentor/mentee program teaching the older individuals in the business world how to utilize the technology around them, it is also allowing those working for them to use the technology with their bosses in new ways.
While not everyone needs a Twitter or Facebook account, knowing you way around the web is invaluable in this day and age. I’d like to know if you guys have seen anything like this reverse mentor program in any of the organizations you have worked at or researched, and what did you think? Although we’re young, do you feel totally up to date on the current technology? I certainly don’t. And if you could would you try and implement a reverse mentoring program among people you know who are not tech savvy?
Kwoh, Leslie. “Reverse Mentoring Cracks Workplace.” The Wall Street Journal. Nov 28, 2011. B7
--Kaitlin Reichel
3 comments:
Kaitlin, great article. I think I would definitely do a reverse mentoring program. It's like the Pike Place Fish Market, everyone should be able to coach everyone no matter how high or low you are in the company.
Ryan Luginbuhl
I have never seen anything such as this at any organization, but I do think it could be a great resource and I could definitely see this type of thing showing up in more and more organizations.
Michael Lorimer
I can certainly see this becoming very common in the workplace because without a solid understand how how to use a computer employees/managers will be in big trouble. I have personally shown both of my parents some little tricks and tips that have probably made them more effective at work.
-Eddie Nemeth
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