Baby Boomers as Mentors

Most businesses could use their more experienced Baby Boomers, who have deep knowledge, impressive networks, and broad-based business experience, to buffer younger employees against frustration, focus on their career paths, and find places to acquire the skills-based knowledge necessary to succeed.

Many Baby Boomers are looking for new ways to work - and are considering different business responsibilities, new opportunities, ways to give back to their organizations, or avenues for working with younger employees.  Research has indicated that Baby Boomers like collaborative learning and working in teams.  Mentoring provides a great opportunity to utilize Baby Boomers, but only when companies recognize that mentoring is a significant piece of a strategic plan to ramp up recruiting, retaining and increasing the knowledge and skills of talented employees.

The business knowledge of 20-year-olds and that of 50-year-olds is profoundly different.

The technology facility and ability to multi-task among 20-somethings is unparalleled and impressive.  But the knowledge, experience, creativity, and business acumen of 50-somethings is also unparalleled and equally impressive in a very different way.  Cross-generational mentoring provides one of the most significant ways for integrating these diverse abilities.

For the complete story, go to:  http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3697/is_200504/ai_n13637962 

Source: Mercer Business, Mercer County Chamber of Commerce Apr 01, 2005