‘Reverse Mentoring’ for Target Execs

Target is taking a new approach to help veteran employees stay up-to-date with technology, social media and marketplace trends. Younger millennial workers are "reverse mentoring" the baby boomer company leaders. Reverse mentors teach executives how to jazz up a Twitter feed, use Snapchat and adapt to changing times. Participants say it also helps millennials because they gain more self-confidence.

Total Retail’s Take: I’m a millennial — I've been texting since I was 12 and social media is how I communicate with friends. On the other hand, my parents learned how to text just a few short years ago, and recently upgraded to smartphones (that they still need some help navigating). Growing up surrounded by changing technology has allowed my generation to catch on with ease. Reverse mentoring takes advantage of this strength. Furthermore, it's a great way to get a better sense of what your customers want and how they view your brand, no matter the age.