November 2015
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Fluid Mentorships

Saturday, October 17, 2015

In the past, mentor relationships reinforced top-down hierarchies. An older, more experienced employee would take a novice under their wing and show them the ropes, so to speak. This prevented a knowledge drain when the senior-level employee left the company, and would hopefully result in a competent young employee, ready and prepared to move up the ranks. But today, these relationships are becoming more fluid. Increasingly, millennial employees are entering into reverse mentorship-type relationships, where they educate older, more senior executives on new tech trends and social media tactics. And while these relationships can be beneficial, they should be approached with caution. Many experts agree that while millennials may have more technical know-how than their baby-boomer counterparts, they lack the business acumen and maturity to be in charge of a company’s social media efforts. It’s important, instead, to view mentorship as a two way street, these experts suggest, with both parties learning from each other. As the generational gap widens, it will be important for younger and older workers alike to respect each other’s unique skills, knowledge and experiences. 

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