http://www.laurenafernandez.com/blog/reverse-mentoring-are-we-really-leading-the-digital-way/ Mon, 03 Jan 2011 21:57:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://www.laurenafernandez.com/blog/reverse-mentoring-are-we-really-leading-the-digital-way/comment-page-1/#comment-2359 SaraKate Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:00:55 +0000 http://www.laurenafernandez.com/blog/?p=665#comment-2359 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. 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.

]]> http://www.laurenafernandez.com/blog/reverse-mentoring-are-we-really-leading-the-digital-way/comment-page-1/#comment-2358 SaraKate Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:56:50 +0000 http://www.laurenafernandez.com/blog/?p=665#comment-2358 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? 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?

]]> http://www.laurenafernandez.com/blog/reverse-mentoring-are-we-really-leading-the-digital-way/comment-page-1/#comment-2357 SaraKate Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:49:05 +0000 http://www.laurenafernandez.com/blog/?p=665#comment-2357 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. 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.

]]> http://www.laurenafernandez.com/blog/reverse-mentoring-are-we-really-leading-the-digital-way/comment-page-1/#comment-1647 SaraKate Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:00:55 +0000 http://www.laurenafernandez.com/blog/?p=665#comment-1647 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. 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.

]]> http://www.laurenafernandez.com/blog/reverse-mentoring-are-we-really-leading-the-digital-way/comment-page-1/#comment-1646 SaraKate Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:56:50 +0000 http://www.laurenafernandez.com/blog/?p=665#comment-1646 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? 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?

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