At talentsmoothie we have reciprocal mentors: young people who mentor us on exciting subjects like how to think like digital natives, and we mentor them on things like how to navigate the alien worlds of Gen Xers and Boomers.
One of the things that Shaun, my mentor, does is gives me what he calls ‘inefficiency alerts’. That is, when he watches me using my mobile phone or computer he notices when I am doing things the long way (usually the only way I know how) and shows me how to do things faster/more efficiently. Thanks to his teaching I can now post my blog entries in less than half the time. It’s great.
I came across this service in Holland where teenagers are giving mobile phone workshops to adults. It’s a good idea and something that maybe companies could take onboard. Wouldn’t it be great to have a young colleague show you how to use your Blackberry, iPod, a social networking site maybe…… It would save so much time and would be much more fun than reading a manual.
Sally
