Communications of the ACM
Reverse Mentoring Cracks Workplace
Credit: Steve Dininno / The Wall Street Journal
Workplace mentors used to be older and higher up the ranks than their mentees. Not anymore. In an effort to school senior executives in technology, social media and the latest workplace trends, many businesses are pairing upper management with younger employees in a practice known as reverse mentoring.
The idea is that managers can learn a thing or two about life outside the corner office. But companies say another outcome is reduced turnover among younger employees, who not only gain a sense of purpose but also a rare glimpse into the world of management and access to top-level brass.
Younger employees at Hewlett-Packard Co. are clamoring for reverse mentoring. While some workers there have already arranged their own informal reverse-mentoring relationships, the company's Young Employee Network says it wants to formalize the process in the next few months, starting with the several thousand members who belong to the world-wide group. "This is a great avenue to speak with decision makers," says Odile Kane, who sits on the network's leadership board.
From
The Wall Street JournalNo entries found