The Evolution of Professional Mentorship

Mentorship can be a powerful and life-changing experience for the mentee, and often the mentor too - gaining insight into a world they aren’t normally privy to, whilst enhancing their overall career satisfaction.

The dynamics of mentorship are evolving. Rather than the traditional top-down approach where the most experienced colleague mentors a junior one in a primarily one-way relationship, the approach is being reversed in some cases - and both are now benefiting, as learning goes both ways.

Reversing the relationship

‘Reverse mentoring’ pairs less-experienced employees with executive team members to share knowledge on topics that are of major strategic and cultural relevance. Mentees often have different areas of expertise than their mentors, such as aptitudes for technology and trends, and typically a more up-to-date education.

The demographics of a contemporary workforce reflect a unique era - a multigenerational workforce working side by side in a world changing at an unprecedented pace. As we have recently explored, many companies struggle with retaining millennial talent and how to stay relevant to younger consumers.

In this radically changing market, the need for two-way mutually beneficial mentoring is at an all-time high.

Shifting perspective

Companies report that this reversed approach can have several advantages. Since it provides the transparency and recognition that many Millennials and other generations are looking for, retention of their talents is more likely.

Whilst developing digital skills, development is not normally the sole focus of a good reverse mentoring relationship, though it can be a very useful by-product. A generation of senior leaders brought up on paper-based communication can learn how to interact with their teams with modern digital tools and channels. 

Working more conventionally

A mentoring relationship like this can also be spun around to take the form of a more conventional relationship. Essentially, the benefits of experience can provide an improvement in communication and personal skills, valuable career development prospects, an increase in industry knowledge and key networking opportunities.

Your career story can be highly instructive for someone close to the beginning of their career. It might well be inspirational to someone who has not achieved anything like you have yet.

Nicola Müllerschön commented: “Share your own journey of personal or professional growth. But always let them know about both your triumphs and the areas that you struggle with professionally.”

Acknowledge when you have made mistakes. This allows your mentee to learn valuable lessons, and it is also a demonstration of humility and resilience, a must-have leadership quality. We are all humans, we all make mistakes, but the lesson is always in how we adjust and move on from those mistakes.  

Christine Kuhl added: “Whilst you may have more life and work experience than your mentees, this is not an opportunity for a lecture. Practice active listening with your mentee. There must be space and time for them to speak their mind freely. Listen to understand better, not just to respond.”

Conventional or reverse, good mentorships are incredibly fulfilling for all involved, and well worth investing your time in a long-term relationship.

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