Mr. Barrows hired a 24-year-old director of execution and evolution not only to help him stay on top of industry trends but also to help alter his mindset.
Here are three reasons why this generation-X executive hired a millennial advisor.
1. Keeping up with technology can often be difficult for older executives, but millennial workers are not playing catch up. Instead, they are evolving with technology and staying ahead of trends. Mr. Barrows found his company was able to keep ahead of the technology curve by listening carefully to millennial advice.
2. Though it is never intentional, leaders can often date themselves quite easily. However, younger workers keeps them fresh. Relying on outdated anecdotes or methods may have become a habit for many executives, who could benefit from the feedback of millennials, even if it is only in regards to jargon and speech.
3. Reverse mentoring helps communication skills and keeps executives in a learning mindset. Leaders can often feel that they have learned all there is to know but relying on a younger employee to keep up with the times can help ensure they never stop growing.
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