Digitization requires leaders to adopt an agile, continuous way of learning. the solution: reverse mentoring.
One of the key challenges business leaders face today is the role of digital technology both as an opportunity and as a threat to the future success of the business. Leaders who are best equipped to meet these challenges have digital skills, which we define as an experiential understanding of how digital technologies will influence the way companies succeed in the next decade.
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The expectations towards leaders have always been high. In the meantime, however, they have become much more complex. Digitalization is constantly creating new trends, values are changing, new tools have to be learned and mastered. Everything is fast paced – agile working is required.
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The challenge: „learning off the shelf“ does not work anymore.
Classical learning concepts hardly fit into the everyday life of a leader or manager: The content is not individualized, fixed training dates do not fit into the calendar and classes take too long. In short: learning off the shelf is out. Individual learning experiences are a must!
An individual, highly personalized approach provides new perspectives and the opportunity to build up additional skills and competencies needed to act confidently in the digitization process.
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The solution: reverse mentoring
Reverse mentoring focuses on regular interactions between mentor (digitally-affine or native) and mentee (experienced leader). To achieve results, a good practice is a 6-month time frame in which the parties regularly exchange information.
The topics depend on the mentee’s individual questions and experiences as well as on the mentors skills. Typical topics are:
- Agile approach and way of thinking
- Collaboration and communication tools
- Digital business leadership
- Error culture
- Diversity and inclusion to accelerate digital innovation
- Digital networking
- Tools sources on the net
- Building a digital reputation
- Big Data, Artificial Intelligence
- ……
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Advantages for mentor, mentee and the company
Reverse mentoring is about the exchange of knowledge, experience and perspectives. The real life testing and application of tools is also important. The mentor benefits from the experiences of the leader and the mentee learns about new tools, trends and perspectives. In this way, both gain their own personal sense of achievement over time and develop a mutual respect as equals during this collaboration..
There are additional benefits for companies that use reverse mentoring:
- Building knowledge and skills
- Interdisciplinary exchange is strengthened
- Young talent is supported
- Networking between experts, experiences and generations is stimulated
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But how many leaders need to be „digitally competent“?
An MIT board study shows that it is not enough to have a „Chief Digital Officer“ in top management. Only with three or more digitally competent people in top management does a critical mass exist to achieve success. If we assume that every top executive has his or her own area of responsibility with a corresponding management team, then it becomes clear that for a successful digital transformation, many executives at all levels need comprehensive digital competence.
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Learn more about mentoring with INUNITA.
Acquire the necessary competence for digital transformation through mentoring. Contact us contact@inunita.com or join us here: https://inunita.mn.co
