What is reverse mentoring?
Reverse mentoring is a workplace relationship between a senior manager (the older protégé) and a junior employee (the mentor) to facilitate learning and development. Research has shown that reverse mentoring improves employee engagement, reduces job plateauing among older workers, and promotes relationship building, knowledge transfer, and professional development.
Reverse mentoring also fosters intellectual stimulation for younger workers, allowing these emerging leaders to understand their organizations better while engaging in meaningful work.
Ultimately, reverse mentoring improves employee retention and the enterprise's culture and competitiveness.
Business and HR leaders face several challenges related to managing multigenerational workforces, including differences in:
Communication styles
Technological proficiency
Workplace expectations
Learning and development
Managing change
Value and motivation
Mentorship and knowledge sharing
When used successfully, reverse mentoring can help organizations better understand these generational differences, fostering more effective communication, collaboration, and mutual respect.
Exemplar: The rotary phone or the tablet?
Asking whether someone favors a rotary phone or a tablet cuts across generational divides, revealing insights into each generation's varied preferences and perspectives. Such distinctions illustrate why overseeing a workforce composed of multiple generations poses unique challenges for HR professionals and business leaders.
Although neighboring generations share some commonalities, the disparities grow more pronounced with generations further apart, leading to potential conflicts in the workplace.
Rotary Phone
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Sense of nostalgia and respect for durability and simplicity
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Sense of fondness for simplicity and reliability while embracing the benefits of modern communication technologies
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Relics of a bygone era, representing both the technological limitations and the simpler times of their youth
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Novel and unusual, yet a relic and impractical in today's fast-paced, digitally connected world
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Curious artifacts with novel, historical, and design value, yet vintage or antiquated relics
Tablet
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Innovative and convenient, yet intimidating or challenging
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Valuable tools for staying connected, informed, and engaged, yet concerned about data privacy, online security, and scams
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Valuable tools providing functionality, convenience, and entertainment
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Normal part of their interconnected, digital-first lifestyles
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Standard versatile tool for education, entertainment, and creative outlets
What is a ReMP?
A Reverse Mentoring Program (ReMP) is when older protégés (Traditionalists or Baby Boomers) are matched with younger mentors (Generations X, Y, or Z) to solve a business challenge. Our ReMP includes:
The Lattitude human engagement platform and matching algorithm pair reverse mentoring teams based on their complementary work experience, academic background, and interests
Agile and change management methodologies to facilitate learning and cultivate change on a range of complex cultural and business challenges
Surveys and metrics with valuable insights to assess the results of programs, aiding the achievement of organizational objectives
Ultimately, our ReMP programming and services can help business and HR leaders recruit, train, and retain highly skilled workers while improving their mental state and morale.
How do you get started?
To explore our groundbreaking ReMP, enriching workshops, and comprehensive training programs, we invite you to connect with Dr. Keisha Benson Woods. The Reverse-iT Mentoring team of experts will assess the changing landscape of your work environment and guide your discovery towards bridging generational divides, fostering a culture of learning, and building trust and respect through effective communication. Whether seeking to enhance productivity or ignite innovation, embark on a path of discovery and growth today.