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Generations X and Y clamor for mentoring, and some Boomers who came late to the game as mentees regret what they missed. I fall into the latter category and have tried to make up for it by being generous as a mentor to individuals and teams as well as organizer and facilitator of mentoring circles.

You’ve likely heard the expression “what goes around comes around.” It means if you are a giver, you will also receive. That may not be from the person you gave to. And it’s not a formal, obligatory transaction. Mentoring should work that way, not just be single directional, and it’s not necessarily formal pairings, though that can be fantastic if it happens organically, the chemistry works, and the parties are committed to making it work.

I prefer to advocate reciprocal or mutual mentoring. The younger generations now believe they have a lot to offer the older generations, and they do.  And while I agree about the great benefits for women, mutual mentoring is excellent for men and mixed gender mentoring too.  But let’s take it further. Even better, I advocate and set up mentoring circles so that people have several people to draw on, since no one person can supply all the advice any one person of any age/generation needs. Circles allow the chemistry factor to develop and take the time burden off one-on-one mentoring only. People within the circles are free to pair off as well.

When participants get comfortable with each other and as both mentor and mentee, it’s somewhat like a jazz ensemble that improvises, taking off from the contribution of the other players.

Here are some steps that can get your organization started setting up and running a mentoring circle, whether internal to an employer, a professional or trade organization or an alumni group.

• Determine that there are 6-12 people interested in participating of various generations and levels of experience.
• Designate co-chairs to administer the logistics.
• Decide how often to meet and where – in person, Skype, by phone, videoconference, etc.
• Decide on basic ground rules and expectations.
• Select an outside facilitator at least for the launch. After that, one or more internal facilitators in rotation can lead the way.

Contact me for details on how to set up mentoring circles in your organization – and most importantly how to keep them going strong and producing powerful results.

©  Phyllis Weiss Haserot  2015.

Keep the conversation going. Please send your thoughts to pwhaserot@pdcounsel.com or comment on the Cross-Generational Conversation group on LinkedIn.

Phyllis

* The generational chronology for easy reference: Generations are defined by the similar formative influences – social, cultural, political, economic – that existed as the individuals of particular birth cohorts were in adolescence or early childhood. Given that premise, the age breakdowns for each of the four generations currently in the workplace are approximately:

Traditionalists:                             born 1925-1942   

Baby Boomers                              born 1943-1962

Generation X                                born 1963-1978

Generation Y/Millennials            born 1979-1998   

Check out our signature program GENgagenent^tm: 5 Things to Know About Each Generation that Will Change How You Interact, Persuade, Recruit, Retain and Sell.

Make sure every day is a Cross-Generational Conversation Day at your organization. Contact us to learn about the process, tools, and how your firm/organization can participate in the coming year.

For coaching, training and special programs on inter-generational challenges for and among 4 generations in the workplace, attracting and retaining clients and employees of different generations, and maximizing the potential of young professionals and work teams, call or email Phyllis for an exploratory talk or complimentary coaching session at 212-593-1549 or pwhaserot@pdcounsel.com.

Phyllis is available to speak at your organization or at firm retreats on inter-generational relations and organizational effectiveness topics. Call or e-mail for a list of topics or to custom-tailor your own.