Career Advice - Reverse Mentoring is Revolutionizing the Workplace

Mentors have a strong and respected position in the world of work. In fact, that role is growing in importance.

Usually, the older and more experienced, mentors provide coaching and serve as a model for the neophyte who turn to them for advice on how to build and manage your career. This role is important for the success of individuals and organizations.

mentoring takes on a new dimension to all young careerists perform this important service for their older bosses and colleagues.

This is called "reverse mentoring".

This new way of mentoring has brought about the technology spawned by computers and the Internet.

Older workers are usually lost ball in tall weeds when it comes to understanding the potential benefits of cyber technology and how to achieve them. On the other hand, younger people, so twentysomethings, who have grown up with computers and the Internet are comfortable and adept at technology tools. They have also developed new attitudes that change of environment.

This reverse mentoring emerging not without some sobering and painful adjustments on both sides. Who has not had a UN-nerving experience of school age boy solve the challenge of cyber flash, which is confusing to the older days?

In the past, reverse mentoring relationships are developed neformalno.Istraživanje work-life policies shows that four out of ten senior executives asked younger colleagues for help with text messaging, social networking and using iTunes.

Reverse mentoring a growing trend

More and more companies turn to formalize mentoring programs by assigning young people to act as a technology guide.

Edelman public relations firm is a good example of this trenda.Agencija called his program on the contrary (mentor spelled backwards) and left in the world with her. About 95 percent of senior executives in his office in Chicago, working with associated Rotnems.

Usually, those who have experienced mentoring tech found that learning how-to-make-it, though often difficult, is only half the equation igra.Ostatak - understanding the protocol and learning appropriate to hire him so that the organization uses - is equally challenging

It takes some doing - and a healthy ego -. For senior executives to get comfortable being taught at a young person

"You feel stupid," says Janet Cabot, president of Edelman in the central part. "... That is until a certain age and you do not want to feel stupid."

those organizations that have launched a reverse mentoring program often find that the benefits go beyond better use of technology. Chief among them is breaking down the rigid lines of the corporate hierarchy. Inevitably, the younger students and their mentors were exposed to each others knowledge and experience.

As the benefits of informed guidance on how to use technology, veterans gain insight into what makes their younger colleagues tick and how to manage them.

"Although I learned about networking, what I really learned ... it is important to understand what Rotnems think and how they spend their time," says Kathy Krenger, 42, an executive at Edelmen.

"mentoring, sharing different perspectives of an older generation than the younger generation that produces a lot of magic. Nests innovative thinking," says Raphael Viton, president of innovation agencies in suburban Chicago.

Seniors get a chance to spot and evaluate new talent.

At the same time, young people gain exposure to senior executives, which carries with it the opportunity to learn from them, not just what to do, but how to get things done.

This presentation includes two other options for youth mentors. One of them, they have the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and their work ethic. Second, they can introduce new technologies and strategies that can benefit the employer and the extension alone.

Reverse mentoring can come from the top down in organizations that want to fully experience the lines of changes that occur in workplace technology. Or it can happen when young professionals step forward to offer their knowledge.

This is clear. Either way, all parties - employers, senior executives and junior staff - used when reverse mentoring takes place