Topic 1: What is intergenerational mentoring?
The difficulties posed by the current demographic tend to prompt us to consider the necessity of implementing more comprehensive employment plans and policies based on the life cycle principles. Therefore, it is critical to encourage workplaces that respect all phases of the life cycle. This notion leads us to the concept of intergenerational learning.
Intergenerational learning is simply having people of different ages learning together or learning from each other to gain skills, values and knowledge. This learning is characterised by being reciprocal and mutual, and it can happen in formal and informal settings.
In this context, intergenerational mentoring/reverse mentoring can be an efficient tool for knowledge-sharing, creating engagement, developing leadership and, first and foremost, building *intergenerational relationships based on mutual acceptance.
Source: www.freepik.com
Related to the concept of intergenerational is reverse mentoring.
Reverse mentoring is considered to have a highly positive impact on organisational cultures as it helps reduce generation gaps and can positively contribute to tackling *ageism and promoting diversity and inclusion in workplaces.
Reverse mentoring uses the same principles and processes as any formal mentoring relationship. The major difference to traditional mentoring is that, because of his/her age, the mentor might not be considered to have enough experience to be a mentor.
Mentoring and entrepreneurship
Many 50 + individuals have experience in self-employment and can remain engaged in entrepreneurship by mentoring and supporting not only their peers but also younger entrepreneurs. And why not have these younger entrepreneurs mentoring senior entrepreneurs?
Bringing together different generations to learn and exchange experiences (intergenerational learning) towards responding to a societal challenge can have a huge impact on developing communities and society in general.
Reverse mentoring (or intergenerational learning) is useful to boost entrepreneurship practices. Reverse mentoring helps close generation gaps and gives people the opportunity to see the world from different perspectives. It supports inclusivity.
Source: Mindshift Talent Advisory