How can you use reverse mentoring to develop your business?

Reverse mentoring is a practise where younger individuals mentor their older counterparts, unlike the vice versa traditional methods.

Reverse mentoring is a practice where a junior or less experienced employee mentors a senior or more experienced colleague. It's an opportunity for knowledge exchange, where the mentor imparts insights, perspectives, and skills that the mentee may not be familiar with, often related to newer technologies, trends, or diverse viewpoints.

> fluency in digital tools - designate a young, startup-minded protégé to mentor on implementing web3 customer engagement systems using emerging digital tools, from cryptocurrency to metaverse applications > co-creation of new offerings - co-develop MVP solutions, validate market viability, and conceptualize new offerings aligned with the preferences of Gen Z entrepreneurs > diverging distribution models - work with a retail industry mentor to evaluate hybrid distribution models that combine online and offline channels to provide seamless omnichannel sales > modernizing loyalty Programs - using web and mobile techniques such as gamification and flexible rewards, we innovate loyalty and community building programs that are customizable

Without assigning skillsets to age simply become open to learning from anyone. I’ve worked on amazing teams where age and experience are not relevant factors. People implement what they can, learn from each other and external resources and collaborate to share knowledge. Sometimes using new terminology overcomplicates basic respect, open mindedness and individual motivation for personal growth.

Organizations are quickly increasing the uptake of reverse mentorship with the aim of encouraging professional relationships regardless of seniority. The exchange of knowledge, experience and skills helps bridge generational divides, support’s innovation and culture change; as more senior employees get to learn from more junior and often younger colleagues. This helps build trust across the organization, increases employee engagement and is key to developing future leaders as the relationship built between the two can quickly transform into career coaching sessions for the junior.

La mentoría inversa puede ayudar a profesionales experimentados a abrir el foco a nuevas tendencias y nuevas tecnologías que, a veces por desconocimiento, a veces por miedo, no se atreven a probar.

Using reverse mentoring helps in developing a culture of continuous learning and innovation, by leveraging the skills of the younger/less experienced individuals in an organization. It promotes an inclusive workspace, encouraging collaboration. When done properly, it can lead to a more dynamic and resilient organization, positioned rightly to thrive in a rapidly changing business landscape.

To get started on reverse mentoring, an organization can follow these steps: 1. Define its objectives by clearly outlining the specific goals/challenges it wishes to address through reverse mentoring. 2. Create awareness within the organization, by communicating the benefits, emphasizing the value received from it. 3. Identify and select mentors and mentees within the organization, who are open to learning and collaboration. 4. Develop a framework for it, including the frequency and format of interactions. 5. Provide training or guidance to both parties in the reverse mentoring program. 6. Encourage open communication and establish a supportive environment for knowledge. 7. Set expectations for both parties 8. Encourage two-way learning,

Open mindedness and readiness to learn is key in reverse mentoring to enhance learning. There is always something to learn from the other person if you are open to new ideas and different perspectives

To ensure reverse mentoring becomes successful, first of all, promote cross-generational collaborations within your organization. This will help in creating a more inclusive workspace by breaking down hierarchical barriers. Then embrace adaptability by leveraging the insights of the younger employees. Also, prioritize employee engagement and development. These tips will make it work as expected.

There are many ways an organization could benefit from reverse mentoring. They include: 1. Harnessing fresh perspectives for innovative ideas and approaches to be used in the organization. 2. Creating an inclusive and cohesive culture, promoting fruitful teamwork. 3. Staying ahead of emerging trends and technologies, by learning from the younger employees. 4. Cultivating a learning culture within the organization, improving the skills of each employee. 5. Registering tangible results after incorporating the reverse mentoring program.

In my experience, younger generations can add a lot of value to a business. The value they bring goes beyond the usual cliche of “young people are good with tech”. A bit like when you are proofreading something you’ve written and can’t see a typo. It’s important to have a fresh set of eyes looking at what you’ve written. When we welcome younger generations’ insights into our business, we open our doors to a fresh set of eyes with a new perspective that can help us identify points for improvement we’d missed from being too deep into the business trenches. Yes, they bring knowledge we don’t have but they also bring back a fresh outlook that often gets lost along the way.

While reverse mentoring can be very beneficial, traditional mentoring is very important to keep in mind. Having people in your network that not only inspires you but helps guide you in the right direction in difficult situations or when you have to make important decisions is very important to consider.