3 Benefits of Reverse Mentoring
January is considered National Mentoring Month, and as I sit at the intersection of the mentor and the mentee, I am reminded of reverse mentoring. Reverse mentoring can happen inside and outside of Corporate America. I would not limit reverse mentoring to Corporate America, which can benefit churches, schools, and even parental relationships!
" Reverse mentoring refers to an initiative in which older executives are paired with and mentored by younger employees on topics such as technology, social media, and current trends."
Your Age Doesn't Matter- Your Knowledge Does- Often, the mentor may be older than the mentor, but in the case of reverse mentoring, the mentor can be younger. Age does not define mentoring; it is determined by what you can and is willing to learn from someone despite their age. Leadership doesn't have a specific period, date, or time when it's your time to shine. It's your time; the same goes for mentoring. Reverse mentoring is about sharing the knowledge that you have acquired, and it is about showing and adding value.
You Gain A New/Different Perspective- Reverse mentoring can provide a different perspective on life. The new perspectives from reverse mentoring allow us to see the world differently and challenge those "because we have always done things this way mentality."
The Teacher and Student Trade Spaces- The person typically seen as the teacher is now the student, and this experience will humble you (it shows you that you are not the most intelligent person in the room). This happens to me a lot when it comes to music, and I like what I like and do not follow the up-and-coming artist or people within the music industry a lot; however, I ride in the car with my baby sister and ask her about the artist she listens to. She shares their personal story and why she likes them, and I ultimately go to download their music; the same happens with my mentees. I ask them what they are listening to and share. This experience allows me to understand and gain exposure to someone I may not have known about.
It can be the simplest thing that helps one gain a new insight or perspective on a specific topic. Continue to learn and stretch yourself to grow, and reverse mentoring is one avenue that allows you to do that.
Happy Mentoring!