So, the mentee is now the mentor?
But what if we said there’s been a new twist in the mentorship dynamic?
Yep, programs are going away with the outdated arrangement for a more modern approach called reverse mentoring.
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But how does reverse mentoring exactly work?
And is it better than traditional mentorship?
Some benefits of reverse mentoring include:
What Makes a Successful Reverse Mentoring Program?
Here are some key strategies that can help start or grow your reverse mentoring program.
Decide on Your Outcomes
before you jump in, decide what you want the outcome to be.
What do you want your newer employee mentors to get from this program?
What do you want upper-level employees to take from the experience?
What goals have been set for each person involved, as well as the goals for the company?
Youll also want to clearly outline the parameters for the program and your plan of implementation.
How many months will this mentoring relationship last?
What tasks or jobs will mentors and mentees do?
And how will you communicate these details to your staff?
Having clear and well-defined metrics can help in this area.
Make that one of the measurable goals of your program.
Also, implement a strategy to address problems and deal with challenges.
Conclusion
As with any workplace initiative, it takes a lot of planning and patience.
It breaks the assumption that more senior employees don’t have anything to learn from junior level staff.
Cantalupo, G.Does Mentoring Still Matter for Fortune 500 Companies?Forbes.May 19, 2022.
