MENTORING, REVERSE MENTORING IN CONNECTION TO INTERGENERATIONAL COOPERATION

Abstract

Mentoring is used in many forms in many organizations today as an effective way of transferring knowledge between employees, as well as socializing new recruits. Over time, new forms of mentoring have emerged, one of which is reverse mentoring. This involves the transfer of ICT skills and digital competences to older employees.

Mentoring and reverse mentoring can be very effective at the same time. It is a transfer of knowledge and experience in both directions, with the roles of mentor and mentee alternating. This is also the approach we propose in our paper, in which we have developed the content and programme of a mentoring and reverse mentoring scheme, using the example of an administrative and technical services department. In particular, we aim to help the company optimise the transfer of knowledge between employees. The positive effects will also be seen in improved employee relations, better organizational culture and energy, and the company will save on the costs of providing learning, education and training for its employees.

At the same time, it is important to remember that a key factor influencing the success of mentoring and reverse mentoring programmes in a company is the acceptance and active involvement of employees in these programmes. Otherwise, the implementation of the programmes will never produce the desired results.

In this paper, we have therefore also focused on the development of proposals to encourage employees to actively participate in mentoring and reverse mentoring programmes. In this way, we aim to improve the results of these programmes and, as a result, to help improve intergenerational cooperation in the company.

In this way, we will also help the company to implement the programmes designed and to achieve the objectives of the implementation of these programmes in the company.

Index Terms—mentoring, reverse mentoring, peer mentoring, intergenerational cooperation, employee relations, employee networking