Reverse Mentoring?

Seasoned executives, particularly the more "senior" ones, are discovering that they actually have a lot to learn from the individual they mentor. Being in the corner office has its advantages, but it also has a tendency to isolate you from many of the important day-to-day aspects of the business.

By spending time listening first-hand to those who are much further down the chain of command, you may find out a lot of things you didn’t know, and not just about your organization. Many new ideas, technologies and problem solving approaches are being identified and developed by young people with a completely different mindset than ours, so it's important to stop teaching now and then and see what you can learn.

The ability to share the benefit of one's experience with an eager mind is usually the draw for mentors, but the reward is almost always the renewal and energy that are returned.






Graham Carver, President

J.I.T. Recruitment
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Float Your Boat
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Succession Planning STILL the Elephant in the Room
Large segments of the business community are facing a serious succession gap with the loss of the huge post-WWII demographic, particularly in the financial and energy industries, yet there still seems to be a lack of will and/or capability to deal with this impending tsunami.
It Pays to Do Your Homework
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Hire for the NEXT Need
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Good Company
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Local is the New Global
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Reverse Mentoring?
By spending time listening first-hand to those who are much further down the chain of command, you may find out a lot of things you didn’t know, and not just about your organization.
Think Like a Pilot
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Carpe Diem
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Time to Lay Low
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Move 'em on Over
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Exiting Successfully
True leadership is a character trait, and good leaders care about the success of their team from start to finish.
What Makes a Candidate Impressive?
Everyone is looking for an edge with employers and recruiters when interviewing for a coveted role, but there’s one thing, next to a stellar track record, that I find most convincing in a candidate: passion.
Looking to Hire Internationally?
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New Executives Should 'Bunt'
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Different Animal, Different Handling
My last blog recommended avoiding candidates who are more interested in what’s in it for them, than how they can contribute to the success of the company, but there’s always one exception... The Sales Executive.
Sell the Challenge
If you really want to be sure you’re recruiting the right candidate for the job, make sure you’re selling the challenge first, before the rewards.
The Best Route
When you’re trying to get from A to B in a cab, you want your driver to know the quickest route to get there, as well as the best alternative routes. The same principle can be applied to research.
The Perfect Process
One of the benefits of being a private firm is having the ability to adapt our processes to the needs of our clients. While tight, solid operating processes are necessary to efficiently and reliably run an organization, they’re only a framework, and can sometimes be an impediment to success if they’re too rigid.
Meet the Folks
I think it’s useful to get a well-rounded view of a candidate by introducing them to one or two others in the organization, as there are often issues that get overlooked or questions that might have been asked when working alone...
Testing Talent
I often get asked ‘What tests do you use to assess candidates?’ Well, that all depends upon the client and our assessment of their needs...
Director Independence
In most roles, there are one or two requirements that are critical and must be considered "non-negotiable". In the case of Board Directors, I’d have to say that requirement is independence.
Give to Get
Senior executives who are looking to stay relevant and keep their industry knowledge current should consider mentoring.
Plan for Everything
Smart leaders know that the basis of success in business (and life) is having a solid plan and then implementing it effectively. But there are still some organizations that haven't got a definite, or even informal, succession plan for dealing with the loss of key senior executives.
Take a Break
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Follow Your Instincts
Sometimes, as a recruiter, we see a candidate who doesn’t match the specifications exactly, but whom we feel offers unique strengths that make them worth including in the search process...
The Perfect Candidate You Didn't Know About
Smart people know that the more information you have, the better your decision-making capability. The search process works the same way.
Too Much Information
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International Search Trends
In the broader world of recruitment (not just retained search), there is a marked trend towards greater technological functionality, particularly online capabilities.
How Many Candidates Are Enough?
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The Future of Executive Search
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The Ideal Client
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Look Way Ahead
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The Greater Good
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Failure Can Be Good
There is no better teacher than failure. Unfortunately, great candidates are often passed over because of a perceived ‘black spot’ on their record, and that’s too bad, because those individuals may be less likely to make such mistakes in the future, as a result of that experience.
Money May Tempt...
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Perspective Pays Off
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A Leader’s Job is to Lead
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Red Flags or Red Herrings?
I’ve seen a lot of great talent passed over in my time for a lot of reasons, some of them potentially valid, but I have to wonder when I see a great candidate rejected over superficial or perceived faults.
RECRUITING is our specialty
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Be Careful What You Wish For...
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What's Your Real Objective?
Occasionally, a prospect will reluctantly admit to giving their business to one of the 'Big Five' search firms because they ''felt it was safe''...
Are You Really Saving Time?
Last week, I talked about the amount of work it takes to coordinate communication with our IIC Partners. Time is a challenge for everyone, and we all have to choose where we can spend it most efficiently...
Hard Choices
At our recent Annual General Meeting of IIC Partners in Vienna, I realized that while I always complain about the amount of work required to be involved in this type of organization, it really is worthwhile...
Stick to Your Knitting
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Pre-Recruitment Reality Check
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ON HOLD: You're Not Just Losing a Great Candidate
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The C.E.O. as a Recruiting Tool
One of the most important functions of a CEO is to promote the organization - not just to the media, investors, customers and the general public - but also to potential key employees...

Cambridge Management Blog

by Graham Carver, President

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