Leslie Kwoh’s Wall Street Journal article, “Reverse Mentoring Cracks Workplace,” describes the practice and benefit of reverse mentoring in the workplace. A reverse mentoring relationship involves young employees mentoring old senior level staff. The relationship offers executives the opportunity to learn technology and social media skills while providing the younger workers with “a rare glimpse into the world of management and access to top-level brass.”
So What?
The church, at least theoretically, is one of the few remaining social opportunities in our culture that is intentionally inter-generational. Many congregations have a variety of mentoring opportunities pairing adults with children or youth. What would a reverse mentoring program look like in your congregation? What benefits would there be for teens or 20-somethings who would serve as mentors? For the more mature adults who would be mentored?