Reverse Mentoring

‘Reverse Mentoring’ is the opposite format of traditional mentoring, where the senior leader is mentored by a younger or more junior employee. Aka, mentoring in reverse. The process recognizes that there are skills gaps and opportunities to learn on both sides of a mentoring relationship.

Traditional mentoring is typically when a senior or more tenured employee teaches a younger or newly hired employee everything they know. But reverse mentoring makes the senior employee the mentee and the junior employee the mentor.

Jack Welch, the late CEO of General Electric, implemented a reverse mentoring program in 1999 to learn about the business applications of the internet, marking the first wide-scale reverse mentoring program at a large corporation. Since then, the practice has been adopted at several Fortune 500 companies.

Examples of reverse mentoring could include a student or recent graduate, mentoring a senior director in their late 50's or early 60's about technological trends seen by the younger generation.

Benefits of Reverse Mentoring include: -

·?????? Keeping senior leaders informed about emerging trends & leveraging digital technology ?

·?????? Encouraging DE&I and improving overall organizational culture?

·?????? Promoting adaptability & innovation

·?????? Improved leadership & communication skills across the organization

I am fortunate to have mentored a sizeable number of team mates / cross functional employees / ship mates / cadets / students etc from various diverse backgrounds / domains such as Military, Corporate, Education etc and have experienced & benefitted immensely through reverse mentoring process. ?

Some mentees have taught me technical & technological skills and others gave me an insight on various creative / extra-curricular hobbies such as photography, painting, music, fitness, sports, movies, philanthropy etc that has increased my awareness in these disciplines.

Reverse mentoring has helped me in becoming a better human being, a good friend / philosopher / guide and has also widened my horizon of understanding people from all walks of life especially the new age Millennials and the Gen Z Children!!

On a lighter note, I did take some time to understand the new age lingo, mannerisms, WhatsApp Chats & emojis etc that the present generation uses so effortlessly whilst interacting with each other ??

Leaders and Managers are expected to be good listeners, possess high EQ, good interpersonal skills, communication skills and have a quick decision-making ability. Reverse Mentoring can be leveraged for improving these qualities / skills. It helps in improving relationships and provides an opportunity to leaders & managers on becoming flexible in accepting alternate views / suggestions / and learning new age technical & technological solutions as well. ?

I look forward to know your views / experiences on ‘Reverse Mentoring’ and how it has helped you in becoming a better leader & manager. ???