We have always thought of mentoring as the older generation passing down wisdom to the young, but there’s a huge benefit to flipping that around and allowing the novice to teach the master. Forward-thinking organizations use reverse mentoring as one of the tools to help them build a more inclusive environment. It’s designed to empower younger workers to share their expertise and ideas with more senior employees.

The idea driving this growing practice is that matching up workers of different generations, for example, baby boomers with ever-connected millennials, facilitates the exchange of expertise and idea. Studies have shown that when organizations embrace reverse mentoring when accompanied by a comprehensive diversity and inclusion strategy, it leads to higher retention amongst the workforce. This benefits companies and helps foster an environment of growth and learning as senior workers learn new skills and break out of their comfort zones, while younger employees learn important skills they didn’t pick up in the classroom.

We have always thought of mentoring as the older generation passing down wisdom to the young, but there’s a huge benefit to flipping that around and allowing the novice to teach the master. Forward-thinking organizations use reverse mentoring as one of the tools to help them build a more inclusive environment. It’s designed to empower younger workers to share their expertise and ideas with more senior employees. The idea driving this growing practice is that matching up workers of different generations, for example, baby boomers with ever-connected millennials, facilitates the exchange of expertise and idea. Studies have shown that when organizations embrace reverse mentoring when accompanied by a comprehensive diversity and inclusion strategy, it leads to higher retention amongst the workforce. This benefits companies and helps foster an environment of growth and learning as senior workers learn new skills and break out of their comfort zones, while younger employees learn important skills they didn’t pick up in the classroom.

There’s a growing gap between leaders and their people in regards to their perspectives and experiences. The reverse mentoring relationship can enable staff to have a sense of ownership and leadership in building an inclusive culture at the workplace. It shows that even when you’re at the pinnacle of your career, there’s still more you can learn, otherwise, organizations can fall right through that gap into the trap of stale thinking, blind spots, and having policies that could alienate these staff, not only in regards to age, race or gender but all different kinds of viewpoints. But making reverse mentoring work isn’t as simple as finding a mentor and pressing go!……is your organization ready to be reverse-mentored?..…