When Young People Mentor Older Ones

By Marty Nemko

We normally think of older people mentoring younger ones. Yet there are good reasons for doing the opposite. As we get older, it's easy to lose track of what's the latest and greatest. If we can swallow the ego threat of being mentored by a young whippersnapper, Gen-X mentors offer a fast way to get current. And for young 'uns, mentoring a codger can build investment in the organization, create career-building connections with senior staff, and solidify learning--there's no better way to understand something than to teach it.

What can you do today?
Do you have the guts to ask a younger person to mentor you?