From {Young Minds} Reverse Mentoring: Are We Really Leading the Digital Way?

LAF Note: This {Young Minds} post was written by Teresa Basich.

Initially I thought reverse mentoring would be a great topic to cover on Lauren’s Young Minds series – she’s a huge advocate of reverse mentoring, and I see our growing up in the digital age an advantage we should use to swiftly usher others into online communication and other digital media. But, when I started doing a little more reading to drum up extra inspiration I noticed a slightly surprising trend in the articles and blog posts I came across: Gen Y isn’t doing the teaching; Gen X is.

You see, older generations don’t feel they can connect with us. But they feel they can and do connect with those slightly older than us and, as such, go to them for tech tips, conversations about the benefits of joining the newest social networks, and to gain a better understanding of this digital world we’re now living in.

Yep, short post, but this is a conversation best had in the comments section.

As a Gen Y’er, does it surprise you to hear that Gen X is stepping up to connect the digital dots for older generations? Does it bother you, and if so, why? What would you do to take the reigns back? What advantages do you think Gen X has over us and how can we learn from them?

If you’re a member of Gen X, why do you think you connect better with your older colleagues? What do you think you’ve done or are doing differently than us to help bridge the gap of digital understanding?

Taking another angle, should we just let Gen X take the lead here? Putting your strengths in the digital world aside, what are you doing to assert your capabilities and show you have a desire to connect with and help your older colleagues and superiors?

*Picture copyright of http://www.newlitho.com.au.

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laurenfernandez

T - Thanks so much for contributing to the series. I am a big fan of reverse mentoring, but I also think it depends on the person. It doesn't matter what generation they are from - you have to understand basic networking, and to a point, it can be taught. After that, it's all natural and how you handle situations.

I think that we can all work together to connect the dots.
Teresa Basich

Thank YOU, L! Happy to be a part of it. :) You really hit on something that no one else mentioned: Networking. A great mentor-mentee relationship is based on a great connection, and we have to make an effort to look outside our organizations or even our industries to find the "right" mentors or mentees. That takes a certain knack at putting yourself out there and connecting on a professional level.

The more you do it, the better you get, and the more likely it is you'll find yourself in a mentor/mentee situation before you even know it. :)
cloverdew

Great point, Teresa, about finding the "right" mentor or mentee inside or outside your industry. It takes time, attention, and a positive attitude to find the right person, but, as I said above, the ideal mentor/mentee relationship, like any student/teacher relationship, should be mutually beneficial. Having been a teacher before, I know how much one can learn from teaching others and how much one can teach while learning. It's a reciprocal and symbiotic relationship that leads to the best results.
Mike Schaffer

Definitely a hot-button issue. I think the reality is somewhere in between. More than an age-based system, I believe it should be a meritocracy. If you know the stuff, it doesn't matter how old you are!

I do think that the most productive companies use some from Column A and some from Column B. While younger generations may have more innate digital competency (something I don't TOTALLY buy into), older generations have more communications experience. So, in theory, working together leads to the best results.
Teresa Basich

Mike, a meritocracy is definitely more ideal than an age-based system of mentoring. Hopefully organizations don't really follow the "Gen Y knows digital" trend and rather focus on those employees who demonstrate how skilled and knowledgeable they are about the space.

Like I mentioned to Elisha above, reciprocal mentoring is where it's at -- we all have something to learn from each other, and combining age groups to move things forward is probably the most successful for teaching and learning.

Thanks for the comment!
rosannafiske

I think it has to do with being "sandwiched" between generations. As a GenXer, I certainly can relate to many of my Boomer colleagues, and I also remember and experienced many of the "old" technology they grew up with. It's more difficult for GenYers to do this as they grew up in a time dominated by technology and the Internet. Just thinking back to my first launch of a client's online financial site, which was only 13 years ago ... To me, that's simply a few years back in my professional life, but to a GenYer, it means elementary school.

So, as my children would say -- Fax machine? For old people ... Typewriters? For really old people ... And Telex? What is that?
cloverdew

Having grown up in a household where we always had computers, I've had the chance to see an evolution of the machines (and other gadgets) we use on a daily basis from the time I was very young. Before I was even in school, I remember using a computer with a black screen on a DOS system, which had the green blinking text. From there, I learned much about computers and cell phones and other technology simply by using it. Perhaps the reason why older adults find Gen Xers easier to approach regarding technology is because they can put into perspective the new technology and use terminology that the older generations will understand. I think there is also a tendency for younger people in Gen Y (making a sweeping generalization here, I realize) to get frustrated easily when older people have a hard time with technology. Since they grew up with all the gadgets and software, they don't understand why it takes older people longer to learn how to use it. Perhaps it comes down to patience?
Teresa Basich

Great perspective, Rosanna. Your thought on being between generations is a great potential explanation for the "trend" (or the beginnings of it) -- you've experienced just enough of each generation's tools to comprehend where each side is coming from and act as the bridge.

Thanks for the comment!
Elisha Velez

Great topic Teresa,

Like David, I haven’t seen Gen X’ers becoming reverse mentors for the older generation. In fact, I have seen most of the older generation expect Gen X & Gen Y’ers to know more about the digital world and are not concerned with it in anyway. I also agree with David about working together to create a community where everyone learns.

As an intern and a Gen Y’er I have taken the reigns when it comes to SM and the measurement of SM at my company. I have also shared everything I know and learn with my colleagues, all Gen X’ers. This is a win-win situation because they teach me everything they know about writing and communicating. We are a community of mentors learning from each other.

Great topic, I have never really thought about who is teaching whom. I think everyone can learn from each other regardless of what age they are and I think it’s important we do so.

Thanks,
Elisha
Teresa Basich

I have to admit, I haven't personally seen this trend either, which is why I was so fascinated with RWW's trend. It's interesting discussion point, even if the trend isn't as pervasive as we're led to believe.

Your mentoring situations sounds like a great blend of teaching and being taught, which is really what mentoring should be about, right? Being able to teach AND learn. Maybe we shouldn't call it reverse mentoring so much as reciprocal mentoring.

Was your internship SM specific? Or did you fall into the SM role after you joined your organization?
Elisha Velez

I like reciprocal mentoring, I think that is a great way to describe it. To answer your question, my internship was not SM specific however, the company was interested that I was knowledgeable about it. I slowly began the talk about SM and how I thought it could be informative for customers and agents. Most of the people on my team knew about SM but didn't know how it could be measured or how to approach it. Trying to stay with the company and make a good impression before I leave, I created a SM campaign and sat down with my managers to discuss it. I launched @AllstateTX on twitter and almost every other region followed our lead. I regularly teach people around the office SM tricks and tips but I am constantly being taught the ins and outs of media relations, internal communications, professional interaction and corporate PR. I can honestly say, I am the luckiest person to be interning here and have been very blessed with my Gen X mentors.
Teresa Basich

Kudos to you, Elisha! In this instance you were really able to show your knowledge of the space to your team and get them to see the value in investing time and resources into it. Were you nervous at all that this company was handing you the reigns of such a big project? Apologies for all these questions! Just interested. :)
Elisha Velez

Thanks for the kudos, not a problem with the questions. Of course I was nervous about taking on such a large project. I think any new grad would be nervous taking on such a large project at a huge company. At least they should be nervous. However, our SM strategy covered all worst case possibilities and I collaborated with other departments to make sure they were prepared as well. I also went into the project knowing my co-workers would help me out if I ever got in over my head. Luckily I haven’t.

I know this will sound corny but I had to remember what my mom always tells me, “Be confident.” So I try to find the line of being confident and overly confident and make sure I stay on the correct side.
marydemingbarber

Teresa,

Interesting post. As a Baby Boomer who's engaged in using many of these tools, I am intrigued by your question.

I would ask one back and it's really fairly simple...why does it matter who teaches others (anyone) how to use these tools.

The critical issue is that those who want to learn have the ability to do so. Isn't that really what we're about? Trying to help each other become better public relations professionals.
Teresa Basich

Mary, I agree that it really doesn't matter who teaches what, just that we're all helping bridge the gap. My intention was really to find out what various generations think about the RWW post and the "trend" of Gen X connecting better with older generations than Gen Y in the tech arena, and if they've experienced this, why they feel it to be the case. Also, I'd like for us Gen Y'ers to share what we've been able to mentor others on outside the online social space or technology.
marydemingbarber

Thanks Teresa. I think the difficulties "connecting" with other generations is a much bigger and different issue that involves understanding, acceptance and listening on all parts. In sessions I've done on inter-generational connecting, I've found that listening to each other and accepting each other's points has contributed to some success.

My point really is that there's no reason anyone who understands SM can't go out and teach and I hope everyone does.
Teresa Basich

Agreed! If you get it, share that understanding with those who don't, no matter what generation you or they are from. And yes, the struggle with connection seems to be much bigger than a lack of understanding about new forms of communication -- there's an unwillingness to be open to other side and, as you mentioned, listening to each other is the real key.
David Spinks

Good questions.

There are a number of ways that younger professionals can be reverse mentors. It doesn't necessarily have to be about digital competency.

Honestly, I haven't really seen this trend. I've seen both Gen X and Gen Y work with older professionals in a mentorial relationship. I guess, in some instances, older professionals might feel more comfortable working with Gen X as the age gap is smaller, but I don't think this is always the case.

What matters in the end is that we're all working together to learn, and to build the community, regardless of who's doing the teaching. Right?
cloverdew

I absolutely agree with David. I've seen older adults in the work force come to younger adults for help, especially in areas of digital competency, but, in some cases, for other mentorship, as well. As with any student/teacher relationship, both the teacher and the student stand to learn much from each other. In my opinion, the whole point of mentorship is teamwork and learning from each other, a reciprocal relationship.
Teresa Basich

David, you're absolutely right that Gen Y'ers don't have to lean on their tech savvy to mentor an older colleague. I think our tendency, though, is to use our knowledge of the online space as a go-to option for mentoring, because we know it's a strength of ours. Have you had the opportunity to be a reverse mentor? If so, how did that relationship get started and what have you focused on with your mentee?

And yes, what matters is that we're all working together to learn, adapt, and grow as professionals, no matter what level.

Thanks for the comment!