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We (Brandswag) have regular conversations with the good folks over at the Taylor MBA program. They are a great school and are always in tune and up-to-date with changes in communication technology. Taylor MBA’s head honcho, Larry Rottmeyer, forwarded me an article from the Havard Business Review names Let Gen Y Teach Teach. The article is about older generations finding a younger mentor.
This is a new concept to me. In pre and post college years you are told constantly to find older mentors who have the ability to guide you through the difficult parts of life and business. I am a huge advocate of the younger generations finding mentors. I would not be where I am today without the guidance of some key people in my life. That point… is for certain.
Time Warner has decided to take the lead on a reverse mentoring program which gives younger individuals the chance to mentor the older generation.
I find it fascinating that this conversation is taking place among the business and technology elite around the globe. There should always be a give and take relationship when it comes to a mentoring position… both young and old. This gives the younger generation (my generation) the ability to show their skills in things that may be deemed as unnecessary to some…in the older generations.
The fact is… technology is going to change the face of how we do business… it happens in every generation. It is comforting to know some are taking a valiant leap towards learning more about the world of communication technology.
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Comments
08.26.09
Like hell and here's why: A number of us Boomers have been involved in technology long before most of Gen Y was born. We were the ones to come up with personal computers, software, connectivity, telecommunications, cell phones, and we were the ones to build the infrastructure, the platforms and everything eles that the whole social media platform is based on, among other things.
And now you think it's time us Boomers should listen to Gen Y on how, when, where, and why to use tech? Yeah, right!
08.27.09
@JRandom42 - listening to Gen Y & being lead around by Gen Y are two different things. When Xers and Ys criticize Boomers, it's often about how they don't listen to us. Hmmmm.
08.27.09
@JRandom42 - what's wrong with listening to Gen Y in tech (or anything else for that matter)? Isn't that what you're doing here on BC?
Kyle is not advocating only reverse mentoring programs by fact of his statement above of "I am a huge advocate of the younger generations finding mentors. I would not be where I am today without the guidance of some key people in my life. That point… is for certain." It's true what you say about Boomers being involved in technology long before most of Gen Y was born. However that fact does not preclude the fact that Boomers (or Gen X or any other generation for that matter) can learn something from Gen Y. I think one of the benefits of mentoring is the learning process taken away by both the mentor and protege. I also think today with technology and everything else changing at an ever increasing pace that this learning process by both parties is happening much more often. This reverse mentoring program by Time Warner as described in the link above was identified as a need for them to help their older executives understand changing trends and patterns in technology today. This reverse mentoring program doesn't preclude or diminish the importance of the traditional mentoring programs ... it enhances and adds to them.
08.27.09
@JRandom @GenXpertSuzKart:
See Mark W's comment right above mine. Frankly... I don't really need to post anything. He is absolutely right.
It doesn't seem that out of the ordinary for a Boomer to ask a GenY user for advice on using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIN, etc. etc. etc.
Give me another reason why Boomer's should not listen to Gen Y.. in general.. other than the fact you created the personal computer. That is good and great... but if a Boomer wants to propel their company into the future by enabling Gen Y and Gen X to succeed... maybe they should listen to them more often than not.
That said.. I will repeat.. I am a huge advocate for Generation Y to have a Baby Boomer mentor.
Take some time and re-read the post and do not jump to conclusions. However, thanks for the comment!
08.27.09
As an early edge Boomer (born in 1947) I think this post and the short comment thread it's spawned reflects much of what's wrong with intergenerational communication.
Start by speaking about "listening and learning" and the next thing you know you're in a discussion about whether or not GenY has anything to teach us Boomers about technology.
Obviously, the answer is yes.
Every one of us? Probably not. A week ago, danah boyd (a really, really smart young woman doing research at Microsoft), wrote this:
"There are also no such things as "digital natives." Just because many of today's youth are growing up in a society dripping with technology does not mean that they inherently know how to use it. They don't. Most of you [her very tech-savvy blog readers] have a better sense of how to get information from Google than the average youth. Most of you know how to navigate privacy settings of a social media tool better than the average teen. Understanding technology requires learning. Sure, there are countless youth engaged in informal learning every day when they go online. But what about all of the youth who lack access? Or who live in a community where learning how to use technology is not valued? Or who tries to engage alone?" [Aside, do these comments recognize HTML? We'll see.] Full post here.
So, some of us have been using digital technology since before you were born. But, lots of us haven't. I know that when it comes to games, I'm clueless. Mentor away! When it comes to video blogging? You need to talk to me, 'cause I've been steeped in that world since very early YouTube days.
Point is, we have plenty to learn from one another. And not just about tech. Listening and learning are not "top down"...older to younger...activities. I think we Boomers made a pretty big deal about that in our youth, right? What was it those Boomer icons Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young said?: "Teach your parents well..."
I could go on...
08.27.09
I think the largest contribution a Gen Y everyday techie can bring to a Baby Boomer is the ability to push things along. I agree with Tom & Danah that there are no digital natives but there's no denying that those of us who have been absorbed in applications, hardware and web tools for most of our youth are more adept at adapting different resources to work more efficiently. Without a monitor, keyboard and Internet access, people accomplished less over a given time. I waste office time reading LifeHacker and other blogs but I cringe to see my 50-something year old co-workers transposing 3 page letters because they've never heard of OCR or, which may more often be the case, they didn't think to use it.
08.27.09
Yes, they should, or they will miss out. I have been talking to a company whose marketing guy thinks that with a few sparsely placed ads here and there happy future customers are just going to stumble into their web site and sign up for their training service. They don't have money to succeed at Google Ad Sense and won't embrace social networking or other platforms to engage people.
At the same time there is still going to be a huge market of older Boomers who will not have embraced the technology of Gen Y, and who have money. The technology of Gen Y cannot be separated from the post modern lens through which Gen Y sees things, a lens most Boomers will never share with them. Boomer that I am I think through my five Gen Y daughters I have developed some appreciateion for Gen Y sensibility, but had they not been around, I don't know.
08.27.09
There certainly are plenty of Gen Y members and current teens who know lots about technology. But at the same time I encounter far too many who--based on the questions they ask me--don't know how to use a search engine or an online map, and can't find information on a web page that's right in front of them.
I'm not talking about programming here. I'm talking about the absolute basics.
08.27.09
Okay, I admit I'm a crumudgeon. I've tried listening to the GenYs here about technology, and far too many have been lecturing me on being more open about using social networking and other cloud technologies, not comprehending the security issues that are our overarching concerns. Our company does a lot of work for our government and foriegn governments, often things that are classified. We may be paranoid, but our onsite DIA and NSA reps and our contacts with foriegn governments are perhaps even more paranoid about keeping secret documents secret. In light of the recent very public FaceBook and Twitter fails, I think I can understand their concerns.
It is interesting to note that none of the GenYs who have been lecturing me have taken me up on the invitation to present their cases to our onsite NSA and DIA reps.
08.27.09
There are subtle differences between mentoring and coaching, and the Time Warner initiative is more of the latter. The comment by the Baby Boomer about that generation's creation of PCs, etc. is valid, despite the poster's harsh tone. What I'm finding interesting now at work and at home (I have four adult children) is that we Boomers (I'm 54)are doing just fine with technology. In fact, I'm way ahead of many Gen Xers and Yers on the use of social technologies. In fact, woman 55 plus is the fastest growing segment on Face Book. I've met a lot of guys in the 60s who are very heavy into advanced computing and the use of new technologies.
I would argue - and invite feedback - that BBs have a much deeper understanding of the underlying foundation of ICTs compared to Gen Y, which seems to be more impressed with the bells and whistles. Fair comment?
08.27.09
As it is widely known in martial arts, "teaching is learning". By showing how to do something, you have to "re-learn" it to make your student/trainee/younger colleague understand, and by his or her questions and comments, he or she can teach you something in return.
@Jim : How many "Boomers" (except those already working in the IT field) have come to technology and social networks to stay in touch with younger relatives ?
08.28.09
JRandom42 - I see your point. I think an important thing to note is that on this site, people often use the term "technology" as a synonym for "social media." It sounds like you and I have similar backgrounds concerning education and work experience, and I can see how the title of this post might seem backwards. The idea of me (a 23-year-old gen y-er)teaching my older coworkers about technology sounds silly. But if you keep in mind that many of the members of this site are marketing and communications professionals, and that emerging social media tools might be very useful to them in their careers, this post makes a good point about reverse mentoring.
08.28.09
@Evan, that's true, but it's also oversimplified. First, of course, is that using "technology" as a synonym for "social media" is sloppy communication.
But beyond that, there is something to be learned in the opposite direction. It's one thing to say, "We HAVE to be on Facebook," and to jump in with both feet. But there may be very good reasons why people are cautious about that. If you're going to be a good upward mentor, it's important to find out why things are the way they are, and what the concerns are. That way, when you're explaining why you think a particular social media tool is important, you can also demonstrate how your proposal is sensitive to company priorities and issues. There's going to be all kinds of history that a new employee of any generation is not likely to know immediately.
08.28.09
Evan, as a longtime engineer and technologist, a post like this, appears to be rather insulting to me. I've been working with software and telecommunications since the late 70's. Social media, to me, is just the latest tweak to the overall telecomm platform, and as such, appears to be the frothy whipped cream with sprinkles on the telecomm and software cake.
I have very good reasons why I'm not more involved. Most of which, is that I do NOT choose to be totally transparent, and to have some privacy online, even if Scott McNealy says it no longer exists. There is enough that I do online that I don't need the 24/7 noise machine that social media has become, cluttering up and interfering with the activities I need to do.
Also, given the legitimate security concerns, I have endorsed some policies that many Gen Y's would view as restrictive. Why? The civil and criminal penalties for revealing the information that we deal with, even inadvertently, are still pretty stiff, and are a risk that the company does not wish to assume. According to the Board of Directors, if the restrictions are good enough for the Marines, it should be good enough for us, who deal with information that they and their allies rely on. Recall the story of where the technical specifications for the President's new VH-1 heliocopter were discovered on an Iranian computer system, leaked there through a contractor's system.
No advocate of social media I've encountered has done anything to address these concerns, much less the evolving Koobface bug that's stealing information. You get me a substantial discussion on these kind of security issues, and some viable solutions, and I'll listen. We'll see if it ever happens.
08.28.09
JRandom42, I think you are looking at this issue in a too narrow and parochial view. New social networking and communications technology is obviously not suited to your work environment. But lets take this a step back away from the narrow focus on social networking. Does your company hire new college grads for engineering or other technology? If so, why?
Many companies hire fresh college grads to gain their new and fresh skills. There is almost always a need to bring in new blood in order for an organization to keep moving forward.
Is this to say that the fresh blood is given carte blanche to do what they will? No, not at all. The veterans at the company have the institutional memory, they know what has been tried before, what risks there are, and how things currently work.
I would suggest that a dialectic approach is what we should strive for. New ideas get proposed, discussed, and altered in a discussion of mutual respect and understanding. After all the veterans and the new blood are both there presumably because they have skill and knowledge in the domain the company is operating in.
The challenge for this dialectical discussion is for the veterans to not dismiss the youngsters as know nothing brats and for the new blood not to do likewise to the old dinosaurs that are holding them back.
08.28.09
KateNonymous - Sloppy communication indeed. The extremely narrow definition of "technology" has always been one of the things that bothers me most about the blog posts on Brazen Careerist. But other members always seem to understand that "social media" is an implied prefix to nearly every instance of the term "technology" in the posts featured on this site. It made a lot more sense to me after I finally connected the dots, so I thought it might be helpful to clarify for others. I still don't like it, though.
And that's a good point about upward mentoring. I suppose it is naive and pretentious for young workers to assume that their ideas are superior without taking the time to consider that things are the way they are for good reasons, not just because older workers don't understand social media.
JRandom42 - I'm a (short-time?) engineer too, and I think I know where you're coming from. I agree with your description of social media as "whipped cream and sprinkles" (but shhh! we probably don't want to say that too loudly around here!)
Like you, I also enjoy my online anonymity, which is why I comment using only my first name. And I try to avoid the "noise machine" too. I was taking a devil's advocate position in my last comment, as I'm not really a huge fan of social media and I feel no urge to promote its use in the workplace.
It sounds like we're in similar lines of work, and I understand the security concerns well. I know DSS isn't going to be pleased with contractors posting Facebook status updates about the details of their projects. Even without all the security stuff, companies who derive a significant amount of revenue from government sponsors are unlikely to benefit from social media exposure anyway. I think social media may be powerful for companies whose customers are individual consumers, but consumer spending is only 70% of the economy, and I think advocates of social media for business often ignore the remaining 30%. They forget that some businesses sell to the government or to other businesses, rather than consumers, so having accounts on Twitter and Facebook is unlikely to be useful, and may actually cause harm by making the company appear less serious.
09.05.09
Yes the older ones will properly guide the young mentors to achieve their goal. But warners reverse mentoring seems to be different.
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