MENTORING IN REVERSE
One of the suggestions for successful ageing made by researchers and advisors is to maintain or cultivate links with people from younger generations. When there is assistance, advice or support exchanged this even has a name for the transaction that occurs between the age groups : ‘intergenerational transfer’.
Many organisations value the wisdom and experience of their older employees and encourage them to mentor younger team members, especially those in management training.
It now seems that mentoring in the opposite direction is being encouraged by several corporates. Calling it ‘reverse mentoring’, these companies are highlighting the skills and knowledge that younger people possess which can assist some of their older colleagues. Their tech and social media skills stand out of course, but they can offer more than that as they are accustomed to new business practices such as the drive and networking needs for start-ups and crowd sourcing, for example. The best mentoring will probably always be two-way. Recognising that both parties bring something to the table gives mentoring a welcome and enriching extra dimension.
Whether you are in or out of the workplace, having contact and dialogue with people younger than you will be one facet of your positive ageing.
